Idaho Establishes NewPortable DNR Program
POST–Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment
The physician
orders for scope of
treatment ("POST") form
envisioned by this [2007]
legislation would be
recognized by all medical
care providers and health
institutions within the
State of Idaho.
-
The POST
form provides greater
flexibility over the old
DNR [and Comfort One]
forms and, more
importantly, provides a
high degree of
portability. In other
words, the POST form
stays with the patient,
rather than… staying
with the institution.
-
The POST
form does not replace a
living will, although it
does replace the
statutes on DNR orders.
-
Health
care institutions may
continue to utilize
their own DNR orders
within the confines of
the institution.
-
The POST
form proposed by this
legislation is intended
to be portable.
Idaho DNR and
Comfort One orders created
before July 1, 2007 will
remain in effect and will
not need to be modified
unless so desired.
Please note: If you would like your POST to be placed
in the State Health Care Directives Registry, you will need to include a completed registry cover sheet.
Questions? Contact
Bill von Tagen, Deputy Attorney
General, 208-334-4140 and
Wayne Denny,
Emergency Medical Services
(EMS) Standards & Compliance
Section Manager,
208-334-4000
Resources
EMS Bureau
Resources:
POST Sample, Patient POST
FAQs, POST Health Care
Providers FAQs, POST
Instructions, POST
Guideline
Idaho
Secretary of State
Resources:
Physicians, hospices,
hospitals and other medical
facility resources
Effective July 1, 2007
HISTORY
A Better Way Coalition, Inc. Advance Care
Planning Committee began studying Idaho “code status
issues” in 2005. Committee members identified “lack of
portability of the DNR in Idaho” as a significant
problem due to the negative effects on people nearing
the end of life. Searching for a solution to this
problem the “POLST” (Physician’s Orders for Lift
Sustaining Treatment) and the “POST” (Physician’s Orders
for Scope of Treatment) programs were reviewed for
suitability in Idaho. Both were deemed a good fit and
the Idaho Health Care Association (Coalition member)
presented a joint resolution to the 2006 legislature. It
passed and a POST Task Force in the Office of the Idaho
Attorney General developed the statute that passed the
2007 legislature. It was signed into law by the Governor
on March 27, 2007.
RS 16757 “POST” STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
Last year [2006], the legislature adopted
House Concurrent Resolution 40 ("HCR4O"), which directed
the Department of Health and Welfare and the Attorney
General to develop a form that could replace "do not
resuscitate" ("DNR") orders used at hospitals and other
health care institutions within the State of Idaho.
HCR4O also directed the Department of Health and Welfare
and the Attorney General to suggest necessary statutory
changes to allow for the adoption of such a form. This
legislation is in response to HCR4O. The physician
orders for scope of treatment ("POST") form envisioned
by this legislation would be recognized by all medical
care providers and health institutions within the State
of Idaho. The POST form provides greater flexibility
over the old DNR forms and, more importantly, provides a
high degree of portability. In other words, the POST
form stays with the patient, rather than staying with
the institution. Another advantage to the POST form is
that it is signed by both the doctor and the patient or
the patient’s health care agent. Both the doctor and the
patient are involved in the process that results in the
issuance of the POST.
The POST form does not replace a living
will, although it does replace the statutes on DNR
orders. While health care institutions may continue to
utilize their own DNR orders within the confines of the
institution, the POST form proposed by this legislation
is intended to be portable. It is hoped that the POST
form will become the standard DNR form.
Full Bill:
Idaho DNR and Comfort One orders
created before July 1, 2007 will remain in effect and
will not need to be modified unless so desired.
CONTACT
Bill von Tagen, Deputy Attorney General,
208-334-4140
Wayne Denny, Emergency Medical Services
(EMS) Standards & Compliance Section Manager,
208-334-4000
POST Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
|
|
