Glossary
POLST
Also called: Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment
A POLST form is a signed medical order, for people with serious illness, that tells emergency responders and care staff which life-sustaining treatments the person does and does not want.
Unlike an advance directive, a POLST is an order signed by a physician (or nurse practitioner or physician assistant) and travels with the person. In California it is printed on bright pink paper.
Related terms
Advance health care directive
An advance health care directive is a legal document stating a person’s wishes for medical treatment and naming an agent to make health care decisions if they cannot.
Hospice care
Hospice care is comfort-focused care for a person with a terminal diagnosis, delivered by a hospice agency wherever the person lives, including an assisted living community.
Definitions reviewed September 5, 2026. Rules vary by state and change over time; confirm specifics with the community and the licensing agency.