Initiative aims to make end-of-life decisions consistent

None of us will live forever. But we all can plan for unexpected moments when medical decisions are difficult or impossible to make.And now, thanks to an initiative started in 2012 called the Iowa Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment, or IPOST, people can make their wishes known before their health deteriorates.While many seniors have created an advance directive, this legal document is only a general expression of an individual’s wishes regarding medical treatments. IPOST is an actual medical order for using or forgoing medical treatments.IPOST is a way of turning the wishes expressed in advance directives into actual orders for patient care.At its heart, the IPOST is a tool to help ensure that a patient’s end-of-life health care treatment choices are communicated and honored from one healthcare setting to another (hospital, nursing home, home care, hospice, EMTs). The document also aims to recognize religious and moral obligations when making healthcare decisions.Several healthcare organizations are working together through a group called the Siouxland IPOST Coalition to help educate the medical community and public about IPOST. The Coalition is beginning the education with physicians, physician’s assistants and nurse practitioners.A pilot program with Siouxland PACE and Sunrise Retirement Community began in January where participants and residents were assisted by facilitators to complete the IPOST form.After completing an IPOST form, it must be signed by the patient’s physician, PA or RNP to become a legal document. Then, you can rest easy knowing that your wishes have been expressed in a document that all healthcare providers will honor.So how do you learn more? Find more information at www.idph.state.ia.us/IPOST or www.polst.org.