By Anne Fabiny, MD
CHA Chief of Geriatrics and Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
What is the MOLST form?
The Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment form (MOLST) is a standardized medical order with written instructions from a clinician about end of life care for their patient, based on patient preferences.
All health care professionals, like nurses and social workers, are encouraged to discuss end of life care with patients. But the MOLST form needs to be created by a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant.
How is this different from an advanced directive or health care proxy?
The MOLST form may remind you of other end of life planning forms - and there are some similarities. Here is how they are different:
An advanced directive is a plan for future care that a patient puts into writing. In contrast, once the MOLST form is signed by the patient and clinician it is effective immediately.
A health care proxy and a MOLST form are used at different times in health care planning. For a great chart comparing the MOLST form and a health care proxy, click here.
Where is the MOLST form kept?
The MOLST form should be kept in 4 places: 2 copies should be with the patient, one to have on hand at all times, and another copy at home. A third copy should go into the electronic medical record. The last copy should be kept with any appointed health care agent.
Is the MOLST form accepted everywhere?
Currently, MOLST is not used in every Massachusetts care setting. According to the MOLST website, they suggest that you:
- Inform others about MOLST and refer them to the website
- Tell your patients/clients that their MOLST form may not be honored in every institution
- Find out which clinical care institutions in your area honor the form
More Resources
MOLST's official website is www.molst-ma.org. It has a lot of resources that you can use to help the conversation with your patients or clients.
- To download the entire form, click here
- For a comprehensive toolkit about how to use the MOLST form, click here
- To download MOLST's brochure, click here
- To watch a video about MOLST, click here
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