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Vol. 16, September 2007 The e-newsletter of the Washington End of Life Consensus Coalition (WEOLCC)
AGENDA AND REGISTRATION ATTACHED State Rep. Jim Moeller, (D-49th District) will speak on legislative issues around the POLST (Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment) form during a special presentation at the Washington End of Life Consensus Coalition (WEOLCC) annual meeting 10am-2pm Friday, October 19 at the Red Lion Hotel in SeaTac. Moeller wrote and sponsored SSB 2342, which passed in the 2006 session and directed the Department of Health to establish and maintain a statewide registry of health care declarations submitted by Washington residents on a secure web site. The declarations include health include advance directives, durable powers of attorney for health care, mental health advance directives, and forms establishing physician orders for emergency medical service personnel. The meeting is open to anyone interested in end-of-life issues. The meeting will provide networking opportunities with other end-of-life organizations, as well as an opportunity to join the coalition, a group of dedicated volunteers seeking to change the way we think about care at the end-of-life. The cost is $25. A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. Registration and agenda are included with this newsletter. For further information contact Graham Short at (206) 956-3633, 1 (800) 552-0612. Update on WEOLCC Steering
Committee 2007 Spring Retreat The committee reviewed the overall efforts of the five taskforces formed after the 2005 annual meeting (POLST Education, Community Empowerment, Diversity Education, Professional Education, and Faith Education) responsible for the work of the coalition. While each group had its share of successes and failures, the group concluded that the coalition had spread itself too thin by taking on too many issues. To honor the historical strengths of the coalition (namely community and professional end-of-life education) and recognizing where the bulk of our current efforts are focused (support for the POLST program), the group decided to narrow the focus of the coalition for the upcoming year to "Expand the conversation that allows patients to have patient centered and a quality end of life experience by offering quality educational events and recommending legislative actions." The coalition's renewed focus will be elaborated on and developed at the 2007 annual meeting. Olympia takes on POLST
Discussed at the meeting: Issues with POLST: A lack of immunity available to hospitals, long-term care facilities, hospital personnel, health care providers, and specialty facilities (e.g., kidney dialysis centers) for following POLST forms and advance directives; a lack of enforcement of POLST or advanced directives resulting in occasions where a patient's wishes are ignored; and successful POLST implementation at initial admission to a hospital or long-term care facility, but a loss of value for facility purposes once staff have reviewed the patient's advance directives and discussed treatment and care options with the patient. Education and outreach were stressed at the June meeting. (Minutes from the August meeting are pending). Legislative staff are currently preparing a first draft of legislation to provide immunity to facilities and providers for following a patient's POLST form or advance directive. Representative Moeller will have a special presentation at the 2007 annual meeting on POLST-related legislative issues. Coalition will join
WAHSA, DSHS, WSHA and DOH for daylong workshop on healthcare decision
making
The workshop will take place 8:30am-4:30pm on Monday, October 1 at the DoubleTree Hotel, SeaTac Airport. The cost is $79, $129 after Sept. 24. Registration at www.wahsa.com. Educational POLST DVD
for Spanish-language communities now available Available on a single DVD in both Spanish and English, the video illustrates how POLST can be effective in honoring a person's wishes, while remaining sensitive to the role that family and culture often play in end-of-life decisions. The film pays particular attention to those whose first language is Spanish, yet we also believe that it is a wonderful resource for all who are interested in learning more about POLST. For a single free DVD of "Honoring the Wishes of the Spanish Speaking Patient & Family" contact Graham Short at 1 (800) 552-0612. End of Life Events and Resources "Healthcare
Decision-Making Workshop - Standardizing Education for Health Care
Providers Throughout Washington State," sponsored by Washington
Association of Housing and Services for the Aging "Breaking the
Conspiracy of Silence: Effective Approaches to Discussing Advance
Directives and POLST," a physician CME on POLST and advance directives
at Washington State Medical Association annual meeting. "Expanding
Dimensions," WSHPCO fall conference featuring Sobonfu Somé, Gary
Malkin, Teepa Snow "POLST Legislative
Update," an opportunity to hear about legislative issues surrounding
POLST form at the WEOLCC 2007 Annual Meeting "Spirituality
of Aging Conference," will focus on spiritual aspects of aging,
legal issues related to aging and grief issues related to aging. Participation
and Staying Informed End
of Life Steering Committee:
Washington End
of Life Consensus Coalition To unsubscribe from this distribution list, click here to send an email.
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