Which document guides end-of-life decisions for seriously ill patients in NM EMS?

Which document guides end-of-life decisions for seriously ill patients in NM EMS?

• A. Advance directive.
• B. Living Will.
• C. POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment).
• D. DNR order.

Answer: (C)

In EMS, end-of-life decisions are carried by clear, portable medical orders that EMS can act on in the field. The POLST form—Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment—is designed for that purpose. It translates patient goals into concrete orders that travel with the patient and are immediately recognizable by responders, specifying what life-sustaining interventions should or should not be used (such as CPR, intubation, ventilation, feeding, antibiotics), and it is signed by a clinician to be valid across care settings. This makes POLST the most practical choice for guiding care in emergencies, because it provides actionable instructions that EMS can follow right away. An advance directive or living will states general wishes, but they may not be readily available, specific, or easily interpretable in the field. A DNR order focuses only on whether CPR should be attempted and doesn’t address other treatments or care preferences. In NM EMS, POLST is the document that best communicates and enforces the patient’s end-of-life preferences in urgent situations.

In EMS, end-of-life decisions are carried by clear, portable medical orders that EMS can act on in the field. The POLST form—Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment—is designed for that purpose. It translates patient goals into concrete orders that travel with the patient and are immediately recognizable by responders, specifying what life-sustaining interventions should or should not be used (such as CPR, intubation, ventilation, feeding, antibiotics), and it is signed by a clinician to be valid across care settings.

This makes POLST the most practical choice for guiding care in emergencies, because it provides actionable instructions that EMS can follow right away. An advance directive or living will states general wishes, but they may not be readily available, specific, or easily interpretable in the field. A DNR order focuses only on whether CPR should be attempted and doesn’t address other treatments or care preferences. In NM EMS, POLST is the document that best communicates and enforces the patient’s end-of-life preferences in urgent situations.