The New York State Medical Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) form contains medical orders that EMS must honor in critically ill and frail patients. In order to honor patient wishes at the end of life, it is essential that EMS clinicians are able to rapidly interpret MOLST forms and honor the orders. In 2023, DOH policy was updated to align with an updated MOLST form and to allow the recognition of health care agents by EMS without online medical oversight. This training reviews the legal roles of health care agents, discusses the purpose of the MOLST form, how to interpret orders and reviews five scenarios that will give you the confidence to interpret and honor MOLST orders when it matters most.
