07
Senate
Resolution 386
By:
Senators Orrock of the 36th, Unterman of the 45th and Butler of the 55th
ADOPTED
SENATE
A
RESOLUTION
Urging
the Georgia Department of Human Resources to establish a uniform format among
hospital forms used as Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST)
and to mandate their use in all Georgia hospitals; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS,
hospitals throughout Georgia vary the title and format of the paradigm designed
to convey patient advance directives to health care professionals and to honor
the treatment decisions made by the patient; and
WHEREAS,
Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) are endorsed in the
federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) as critical
medical documents used to disclose patient wishes to all health care providers
upon a patient´s admission to a medical facility and whenever a patient is
transferred; and
WHEREAS,
the POLST form enables physicians to document patient wishes as clear, specific
medical orders regarding the types of life-sustaining treatment desired or
refused by the individual with an advanced life-limiting illness;
and
WHEREAS,
Georgia needs to establish a uniform format for POLST forms and to mandate the
use of POLST forms in all hospitals in the state to ensure that the patient and
physician discuss and develop clear medical treatment plans that are based upon
patient decisions and that respect patient wishes for a peaceful death with
dignity.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body urge the
Georgia Department of Human Resources to establish a uniform template to be used
by all hospitals licensed in the state as the Physicians Orders for
Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST). The members of this body further urge all
hospitals to establish a protocol for physicians to complete a POLST form upon
the admission or transfer of a patient with an advanced life-limiting illness so
as to document the patient´s medical condition and treatment decisions and
to ensure respect at the end of life. The department is urged to consult the
medical and clinician community and representatives from hospitals and long-term
care facilities in the development of the POLST form for adoption and use
throughout hospitals in Georgia. The members of this body further urge that the
POLST forms shall be maintained as the first document in the medical record (in
front of advance directives for final health care) to provide formal protocols
to be followed by emergency medical technicians as well as by physicians and
clinicians within hospitals and health care facilities.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
to transmit appropriate copies of this resolution to the commissioner of human
resources and to the Georgia Hospital Association, the Medical Association of
Georgia, and the Georgia Nurses Association.