National POLST

04/16/2025

National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD.org) is April 16. It’s a day to encourage everyone to make sure their family and healthcare providers know their healthcare wishes if they suddenly became too ill to make decisions for themselves. By planning ahead, you can make sure you get the care you want and that your loved ones don’t have to guess what you would want if you are unable to speak for yourself.
It’s not just for older people. Sudden illness can happen any time to anyone!
Identify the key people in your life and make sure they know what Matters Most to you-then put it in writing! It is ok if you don’t know exactly what you want but naming a person/persons who can speak for you is gift you give your family.
There are many resources available to help with these important documents including National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD)Respecting ChoicesPrepare for Your CareThe Conversation ProjectCenter for Practical BioethicsLouisiana-Mississippi Hospice & Palliative Care OrganizationNational Alliance for Care at Home
Illness can happen to anyone, at any age, and it’s impossible to predict. Having a plan in place, even if you’re healthy now, can help make sure you get the care you want if something unexpected happens.

06/27/2024

Conversations do change lives!

06/26/2024

Important announcement about new National POLST Collaborative officers and board members!

National POLST Collaborative Announces New Board of Directors and Officers
(Baton Rouge, LA-June 21, 2024) – The National POLST Collaborative, a leader in promoting the understanding and use of POLST – a set of portable medical orders for individuals with serious illness or frailty, is proud to announce the election of its new board of directors and officers.
The newly elected board members bring a wealth of experience and expertise in healthcare, policy, and patient advocacy. They are committed to the Collaborative’s mission of ensuring that people receive the medical treatments they prefer in the event of a medical emergency when they cannot speak for themselves.
New Board of Directors members to the 12-person Board:
Kim Callanan, MA (Texas)
Jeannette Koijane, MPH (Hawaii)
Christine McMichael, MA, LMHC (Massachusetts)
Nine members are continuing, as follows: Jennifer Ballentine, MA/California, Vicki Buchda MS, RN, NEA-BC/Arizona; Paul Drager, JD/New Hampshire; Emmie Gardner, MSW, LCSW/Utah; Matt Kestenbaum, MD/Virginia; Cindy Munn, MHA/Louisiana; Susan Nelson, MD/Louisiana; Paula Sanders/Georgia; Karl Steinberg, MD/California
New Officers:
• Susan Nelson MD - President, Louisiana
• Matt Kestenbaum MD -President-Elect/Treasurer, Virginia
• Cindy Munn MHA - Secretary, Louisiana
• Karl Steinberg, MD - Past President, California
“We are thrilled to welcome our new board members and officers,” said Abby Dotson, PhD, Executive Director of the National POLST Collaborative. “Their diverse backgrounds and shared passion for patient-centered care will be invaluable as we continue to advocate for POLST programs nationwide.” The National POLST Collaborative looks forward to working with the new board and officers to enhance the use of POLST. Through education, resources, and research, the Collaborative aims to support healthcare professionals and empower patients and their families to make informed decisions about their care when faced with serious illness and frailty.
For more information about the National POLST Collaborative and its initiatives, please contact Abby Dotson, Executive Director at natlpolstcollaborative@gmail.com.

06/26/2024

Conversations change lives!

A study published in the Journal of Palliative Medicine found that only 18% of cancer patients remember receiving a prognostic disclosure from their oncologist. VitalTalk seeks to address this issue by providing healthcare professionals with the skills necessary to conduct these crucial conversations in a timely and effective manner.

05/05/2024

Conversations change lives!!

04/14/2024

Conversations change lives!

01/12/2024

Have conversations!

01/09/2024

Conversations do change lives. These conversations always seem too early until they are too late. Talk with your family and friends. A great gift to share.

⛳ 🏌️ Crises are hard settings to learn in, that's why whether it's at the kitchen table or the driving range, you can put some thought into what the most comfortable setting to have conversations about to you is.

10/01/2023

Lately, you may be feeling like it's time to start a conversation about choosing your health care proxy. But you want to be sure you're as ready as possible before you do.

1️⃣ 2️⃣ 3️⃣ Don't worry, if you're feeling lost about where to start, we recommend starting with these three easy steps!

Check out our resource, When the Lights Go up, here: https://bit.ly/46aCRjJ

05/11/2023

Conversations do change lives! A gift of conversations about what matters most!

This upcoming Mother’s Day, think about sharing what’s important to you, in your life and in your health with those who matter most to you, those who may need to make decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so.

Whether it's a mother or mother figure in your life, we want to help you start conversations this week through a compilation of moving stories related to mother figures and their relationships.

Read 15 Moving Stories for Mother’s Day: https://bit.ly/3OXHrKI

04/16/2023

Important words!

🗨️ Leading up to , engage and talk with those who matter most to you. Meet up with a friend, call a family member or send someone from your faith community a text message to get the conversation started. The theme of this day is intended to encourage you to share what matters most to you with those who matter most to you.

Choosing a health care proxy who not only knows your wishes but will also ensure that they're honored is so important! Who in your life do you trust to speak for you?

Read through Your Guide to Choosing a Health Care Prox: .https://bit.ly/39xSmYM

04/16/2023

National POLST encourages all to have the conversation!

Former TCP project coordinator, Naomi Fedna, writes about the importance of including race in end-of-life conversations, and how the conversation came back to her own family.

Join us in celebrating and raising awareness about the disparities in maternal health outcomes for Black mothers.

Read more from Naomi in her blog, Why Race Matters in End-of-Life Conversations here, https://bit.ly/3KCK03l