This is a two-hour CME delivery for EMS on the Provider Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) program which has replaced Alaska's Comfort One Program as of 1 Jan 2022. As of 26 May 2024, Physician Assistants and Advanced Nurse Practitioners may now complete and sign POLST forms as a healthcare provider.

Advance care planning is learning about different types of healthcare decisions that would need to be made if a patient became very ill or injured, and then letting others know—both family and health care providers—about their choices for care.

 These choices are often put into an advance directive, a legal document that guides medical care in the case of disease or severe injury when a patient can't speak for themselves.

 POLST is part of this planning - for people with advanced, chronic, or end-stage illness. It guides discussions between patients, their chosen family, and their healthcare team to define preferred treatment wishes.

 With the POLST, their choices are turned into provider orders to make sure that they only get the treatments that they want.

​The POLST form is needed in addition to an advance directive, it does not replace that document. An advance directive is still needed to name a legal healthcare decision maker, and is recommended for all adults, regardless of their health status or age.

Two very important points need to be made regarding POLST:

1. ADVANCE CARE PLANNING IS FOR EVERYONE.
2. POLST IS FOR SERIOUS ILLNESS.

This educational delivery has seven sections, and each section must be completed in order to progress. All sections must be marked as complete for you to take the 10-question quiz at the end of the course. The attendee is required to achieve a final score of 100% to claim the two-hour CME certificate. The quiz may be taken as many time as needed, to achieve the 100% score.