Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 11, 2026
09:54
Lung Rapid Recovery Procurement Combined with Abdominal Normothermic Regional Perfusion in Controlled Donation after Circulatory Death
Published on: August 15, 2022
Medical orders for life-sustaining treatment: is it time yet?
Anna Clarissa Araw1, Anna Marissa Araw1, Renee Pekmezaris2
1North Shore-LIJ Health System, Medicine/Geriatrics Department, New Hyde Park, New York.
Palliative & Supportive Care
|May 14, 2013
Summary
Advance directives like MOLST (Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) are crucial for end-of-life care in long-term facilities. Most residents have their documented wishes honored, highlighting the importance of these directives.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Palliative Care
- Health Policy
Background:
- Aging populations present complex end-of-life care challenges.
- Advance directives are essential for respecting patient autonomy in long-term care.
- Understanding the timing of directive completion and adherence is critical for quality care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the time intervals between long-term care admission, advance directive completion, and death.
- To assess interdisciplinary team compliance with documented advance directive wishes.
- To evaluate the utility of Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) in end-of-life care.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study of 182 long-term care residents was conducted.
- Data included resident demographics, admission dates, MOLST execution dates, and dates of death.
- Advance directive documentation was compared with clinical interventions at the time of death.
Main Results:
- The median time from admission to MOLST signing was 48 days.
- For residents who completed a MOLST and died, 87% had their documented wishes honored.
- Significant differences in MOLST signing times were observed based on ethnicity.
Conclusions:
- Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) provide essential guidance for end-of-life care in long-term facilities.
- The MOLST facilitates clear communication and practical approaches to daily care for interdisciplinary teams.
- Ensuring timely completion and adherence to advance directives is vital for respecting the wishes of older adults.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Ethical Issues
Nurses are essential in patient care, upholding the ethical principles of their profession and effectively navigating ethical dilemmas. Neglecting ethical issues can lead to inadequate patient care, compromised therapeutic relationships, and moral distress among healthcare workers.
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
01:19Standards of Care II
Nurses bear specific legal responsibilities under several federal statutes, including:
01:30Ethical Dilemmas II
Resolving an ethical dilemma in healthcare involves a systematic approach that considers every aspect of the issue, respecting both the patient's needs and values and the healthcare professional's ethical obligations. Here are potential steps to resolve an ethical dilemma:
01:26Types of Reports III: Telephone and Verbal Reports
Telephone and Verbal Reports in healthcare settings are two communication methods for conveying therapeutic instructions from healthcare providers to nurses or other healthcare staff.
Here's an overview of each type:
Telephone Orders
Here's an overview of each type:
Telephone Orders
01:27Nursing Ethical Principles II
Ethical principles are essential in guiding nurses to fulfill their responsibilities, focusing on the quality of nursing care and decision-making. These principles, including autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and fidelity, shape the ethical framework within healthcare settings.
Consider the following scenario, which illustrates how these principles are applied in the care of Mr. John, a fifty-year-old teacher diagnosed with metastatic liver cancer.
Initially, Mr. John's cancer...
Consider the following scenario, which illustrates how these principles are applied in the care of Mr. John, a fifty-year-old teacher diagnosed with metastatic liver cancer.
Initially, Mr. John's cancer...
01:26Guidelines for Nursing Documentation II
Effective documentation is an integral part of nursing practice. Here are some essential guidelines to follow when documenting patient care:
Timely documentation is crucial to ensure continuity of care for patients. Any delays in recording or reporting medical information can result in medical errors and even adverse patient outcomes. From medication administration to diagnostic test results, every detail must be accurately and promptly documented to provide the best possible care for patients.
Timely documentation is crucial to ensure continuity of care for patients. Any delays in recording or reporting medical information can result in medical errors and even adverse patient outcomes. From medication administration to diagnostic test results, every detail must be accurately and promptly documented to provide the best possible care for patients.