Article

Implementation of Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment

Janette N. Evans

Lisa S. Ball

Camille P. Wicher

Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment, advance directives, cancer, end of life, communication, dying
CJON 2016, 20(1), 74-78. DOI: 10.1188/16.CJON.74-78

Background: When an outpatient in a northeastern cancer institute requested a Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) form, the state’s approved resuscitation form in all settings, none were available. A project was undertaken to institute MOLST forms into policy and routine practice. Research supports early discussions of end-of-life care in patients with cancer and the use of MOLST as an effective tool.

Objectives: The purpose of this article is to discuss the initiation and facilitation of MOLST implementation into practice and policy at a cancer institute.

Methods: Introducing, overcoming resistance to, piloting, and adopting MOLST in an oncology setting is reported and explained based on the three stages of Lewin’s Theory of Planned Change: unfreezing, moving, and refreezing.

Findings: A small pilot of MOLST with palliative care providers demonstrated the feasibility and suitability of using MOLST in the oncology setting. MOLST was adopted into policy and routine practice at the cancer institute.

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