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title: Notes on POLST October 2024
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Get the latest updates on POLST, from Pennsylvania and across the U.S.

| View in browser October 2024 In Memoriam: Terri Schmidt, MD Dr. Terri Schmidt, a long-time POLST champion, passed away on July 10. Dr. Schmidt was an early advocate for ensuring that patients' wishes regarding emergency medical care were respected across settings.   Through her work as both the Clackamas County (Oregon) EMS medical director and professor of Emergency Medicine at Oregon Health Sciences University, she was instrumental in convening stakeholders to develop a new mechanism for translating patients' preferences for end-of-life care into actionable medical orders, leading to the original POLST form.   She was a tireless advocate for ensuring integration of EMS into the POLST process. Learn more about Dr. Schmidt's work with Portland, OR, EMS in the POLST Founder's Story. POLST Legislation Update   With the current legislative session rapidly coming to a close, we expect that action on the current POLST bills introduced in both chambers of the Pennsylvania legislature is unlikely this term. Bills will need to be reintroduced in the PA House and Senate after the new session commences in January 2025.   We are continuing to strategize for the upcoming legislative session and will share specific actions as they are identified.  National POLST Collaborative Update NPC Announces Guidance for ePOLST Completion in MyDirectives for Clinicians National POLST Collaborative is collaborating with MyDirectives, a provider of digital advance care planning tools and secure, cloud-based storage for patients and healthcare access, to offer guidance for their online POLST completion and retention product. This guidance will be available through their MyDirectives for Clinicians platform. If your state or organization uses or plans to use the MyDirectives for Clinicians platform, you can request to have the guidance tools implemented for no extra charge. This guidance is expected to be integrated and ready for use this fall.   You can find the press release HERE. NPC at C-TAC The National POLST Collaborative will be holding two informational meetings at this year's C-TAC meeting in Washington, DC.   When: Sunday, October 20 at 7 pm and Monday, October 21 at 10 am. What: Leaders from the NPC will discuss national initiatives, opportunities, and POLST policies. Who: Any POLST leaders and stakeholders. Email NatlPOLSTCollaborative@gmail.com for the invite.   Update on Massachusetts MOLST to POLST Transition The Massachusetts MOLST to POLST Transition held its Quarterly Update on July 30 to outline the state's progress toward implementation of electronic POLST, moving to the National POSLT form and developing an e-registry to facilitate access across care settings. Progress to date includes: Preparing for testing and integration with MyDirectives Finalizing a list of development partners and meeting with advisory groups this fall Developing regulations Creating a consumer campaign focused on the importance of having a healthcare proxy and the role of the healthcare agent Developing evidence-based provider education specific to MA POLST Creating a website with consumer- and provider-focused information and materials GeriPal Podcast Highlights New Edition of VitalTalk Text   Don't miss this episode of the GeriPal Podcast, "Stump the VitalTalk Communication Experts: A Podcast with Gordon Wood, Holly Yang, and Elise Carey." The guests are among the coauthors of the second edition of Navigating Communication with Seriously Ill Patients: Balancing Honesty with Empathy and Hope, which guides readers through a patient-centric approach to serious illness communication. Listen to the GeriPal Podcast Explore all POLST CE Modules Get Free CE through the POLST Online Training Modules   Build your knowledge of proper POLST use through the free POLST continuing education modules, available through the POLST website!  Thank you for supporting POLST.   Judith Black, MD, MHA National POLST Plenary Assembly Jewish Healthcare Foundation Medical Advisor blackjs352@gmail.com   Lisa George, MPH, CHES PA POLST Coordinator info@papolst.org CQEL: Advocating for Care for Persons with Serious Illness Jewish Healthcare Foundation 625 Liberty Ave, Ste. 2500 Pittsburgh, PA 15222   412-594-2550 Jewish Healthcare Foundation, 625 Liberty Ave, Ste. 2500, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, USA, 412-594-2550 Manage preferences |
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