The Indiana Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment (POST) Program is a new advance care planning tool designed for those individuals with a disease that is life-limiting or terminal. People with these life-limiting conditions experience diminished benefits from treatments and increased burden as their condition progresses.
The Indiana POST form is a standardized form containing orders by a treating physician based on a patient’s preferences for end-of-life care. The POST form documents an individual’s treatment preferences in the form of medical orders that are easily understood by healthcare providers. The form provides physician orders regarding CPR-code or no code status; level of medical intervention (comfort measures, limited additional interventions, or full intervention); use of antibiotics (for comfort only or full treatment); and use of medically administered nutrition. It must be reviewed and signed by a physician to be activated. This form transfers throughout the health care system and the orders are valid in all settings.
The POST form is not intended for use by those with a long life expectancy; therefore, the form should be revisited if the medical circumstances change. The POST form must be completed in conjunction with a physician and the individual, or the individual’s legal representative.
A Living Will is available for anyone over the age of eighteen (18) and of sound mind. Living Wills are traditionally not honored by Indiana Emergency Medical Services. The Living Will is to be used by an individual to state what they believe they would like to have, or not have, done if they are suddenly unable to choose due to an acute incurable situation. The inability to honor a Living Will by most EMS Providers can cause conflicts in care, especially when the individual is suffering from a life-limiting or terminal disease.
All healthcare providers, including EMS Providers, Extended Care Facilities, Hospitals and Hospice Care, are legally required to honor the POST form. The resulting uniformity of care will, hopefully, ensure that the individual’s wishes are followed. The individual may revoke the POST at any time.
A copy of the Indiana Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment (POST) form can be found at www.evansvilleattorney.com within the FORMS section.