Health Care Directive and POLST Information
Sample Health Care Directives:
Minnesota Health Care Directive
University of Minnesota Extension Services - Minnesota Health Care Directive
Document forms are free. Available in English and Spanish.
Honoring Choices Minnesota
The Honoring Choices Minnesota Health Care Directive, introduced in late 2009, was developed by the Twin Cities medical community to provide one standard health care directive for health systems across the state. The document may be downloaded and copied free of charge.
Five Wishes
The Five Wishes document is valid in 40 states, including Minnesota. Single copies are $5; 25 or more, $1 each. Available in 20 languages.
Questions and Answers About Health Care Directives
Minnesota Department of Health - Frequently asked questions about Health Care Directives
Consumer's Tool Kit from ABA Commission on Law & Aging
Tool #1 How to Select Your Health Care Agent or Proxy
Tool #2 Are Some Conditions Worse than Death?
Tool #3 How Do You Weigh Odds of Survival?
Tool #4 Personal Priorities and Spiritual Values
Tool #5 After-death Decisions to Think About Now
Tool #6 Conversation Scripts: Getting Past the Resistance
Tool #7 The Proxy Quiz for Family and Physician
Tool #8 What to Do After Signing Your Health Care Directive
Tool #9 Guide for Health Care Agents
Tool #10 Resources: Advance Planning for Health Care
Information from Minnesota Network of Hospice & Palliative Care
How to Choose a Health Care Agent
Powers of a Health Care Agent
Expressing Wishes and Preferences
Sample Language for Health Care Directives
Will Your Directive Be Honored?
If You Already Have a Living Will
Resource Materials
POLST Information
In addition to completing a Health Care Directive, some individuals may also be asked to execute a POLST form. POLST stands for “Provider Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment” and is an additional method of making health care wishes known. A POLST does not replace a Health Care Directive, but may supplement a Directive. While a Health Care Directive is a document in which one appoints a decision-making agent and/or communicates health care wishes to family members and health care providers, a POLST is a medical order signed by a physician, which can then be used by EMS personnel and other health care professionals during an emergency. For more information about POLST forms, follow this link:
http://www.mnmed.org/KeyIssues/POLSTCommunications/tabid/3291/Default.aspx
