What should be done if a POLST Form does not have the required items completed?

What should be done if a POLST Form does not have the required items completed?

• A. The form is not valid for prehospital use.
• B. The form can be used with verbal confirmation.
• C. The form should be completed by EMS on scene.
• D. The form is valid with the signature.

Answer: (A)

Completeness matters for a POLST to be usable in the field. If any of the required items are not filled in, the form cannot be treated as a valid medical order for prehospital care. Incomplete information leaves uncertainty about the patient’s wishes and what should be done, which can lead to inappropriate interventions or withholding care, neither of which is acceptable in a crisis. Therefore, an incomplete POLST is not valid for guiding prehospital treatment, regardless of any signatures. Verbal confirmation cannot substitute for missing items, EMS cannot complete the form on scene to make it valid, and having a signature does not fix the lack of required information. In practice, treat it as not containing a valid POLST directive and follow appropriate protocols or seek guidance as needed.

Completeness matters for a POLST to be usable in the field. If any of the required items are not filled in, the form cannot be treated as a valid medical order for prehospital care. Incomplete information leaves uncertainty about the patient’s wishes and what should be done, which can lead to inappropriate interventions or withholding care, neither of which is acceptable in a crisis. Therefore, an incomplete POLST is not valid for guiding prehospital treatment, regardless of any signatures.

Verbal confirmation cannot substitute for missing items, EMS cannot complete the form on scene to make it valid, and having a signature does not fix the lack of required information. In practice, treat it as not containing a valid POLST directive and follow appropriate protocols or seek guidance as needed.