For Professionals - National POLST Collaborative

Helping You Deliver the Right Care at the Right Time

As a healthcare professional, you want your patients to receive care that aligns with their goals, values, and medical realities. POLST (Portable Medical Orders) is a tool that translates thoughtful conversations into actionable medical orders that follow patients across settings and clinicians.

Is POLST Right for My Patient?

Get a detailed overview on building a national consensus on POLST.

Learn about the National POLST Form

POLST & Advance Care Planning

Learn how POLST fits into overall advance care planning.

Explore POLST and ACP

Find POLST in Your State

Access state-specific forms, resources and contacts.

Find Your State

Why POLST?

Whether you’re new to POLST or refining your approach, we’re here to equip you with evidence-based tools, training, and guidance to support shared decision-making for patients with serious illness or advanced frailty.

Clarity Across Care Settings

POLST orders reduce ambiguity during transitions and emergencies.

Improved Patient Satisfaction

Patients and families feel heard and supported.

Greater Clinical Integrity

Treatments are aligned with what matters most to the individual.

Orders That Are Portable & Actionable

POLST medical orders are respected across treatment locations and systems.

Join Us to Strengthen Care for Seriously Ill Patients

National POLST collaborates with healthcare organizations, nonprofits, and advocacy groups across the country to improve how end-of-life care decisions are made and honored. We invite you to join the national movement to help patients with serious illness or frailty receive care that aligns with their values and medical needs. Membership connects you to the tools, knowledge, and network needed to make meaningful change.

Become a Member

Resources

We maintain a library with a wide range of materials designed to assist providers as they support patients with advanced illness or frailty.

Resource Library

Partnering to Improve Serious Illness Care

National POLST works alongside healthcare providers and advocacy organizations to support better conversations and clearer documentation to consistently honor patient wishes across all care settings.