Minnesota POLST Registry Study

Minnesota POLST Registry Study Key Findings & Recommendations (PDF)

In 2023 the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) conducted a study to develop recommendations for a statewide registry of Provider Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) forms. These are provider orders for life-sustaining treatment, signed by a physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant, to ensure the medical treatment preferences of a patient with an advanced serious illness, who is nearing the end of life, are honored. The 2023 legislature directed the commissioner of health to do this work in consultation with an advisory committee and address:

• Electronic capture, storage, and security of information in the registry
• Procedures to protect the accuracy and confidentiality of information submitted to the registry
• Limits as to who can access the registry
• Where the registry should be housed
• Ongoing funding models for the registry
• Any other action needed to ensure that patients' rights are protected and that their health care decisions are followed

This work was managed by the Center for Health Information Policy and Transformation in the Health Policy Division at MDH.

More information on POLST can be found at POLST Minnesota and National POLST.