Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment - Professionals

MOLST Program

The Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) is designed to improve the quality of care people receive at the end of life.  MOLST is New York State's Physicians Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) Paradigm Program.  These programs are based on effective communication of patient wishes, documentation of medical orders on a brightly colored form, and a promise by health care professionals to honor these wishes.  See if your state has a POLST Paradigm Program.

The MOLST Program:

• Assists health care professionals in discussing and developing treatment plans that reflect patient wishes. 
• Results in the completion of the MOLST form.  
• Helps physicians, nurses, health care facilities and emergency personnel honor patient wishes regarding life-sustaining treatments.

MOLST is generally for patients with serious health conditions.  Physicians should consider consulting with the patient about completing a MOLST form if the patients:

• Wants to avoid or receive life-sustaining treatment.
• Resides in a long-term care facility or requires long-term care services.
• Might die within the next year.

          DOH-5003 MOLST form 
                Copies of the MOLST form should be printed on bright pink paper.