What Counts as a DNR in EMS Protocols? Wristbands, POLST, Verbal Orders

Prehospital Care Research Forum (PCRF) Journal Club por Prehospital Care Research Forum

Notas del episodio

In this month’s journal club episode, we tackle a topic every EMS educator and clinician wrestles with: how do you honor a patient’s end-of-life wishes when they call 911? We unpack a structured review of U.S. EMS protocols and the wide variation in what counts as a valid Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order, from physician-signed forms to bracelets, POLST-style documents, and even verbal orders. We’ll discuss how these differences can lead to moral distress and affect goal-concordant care, and why understanding the nuances of DNR documentation matters for field providers, system leaders, and anyone who wants to ensure patient wishes are respected in the out-of-hospital setting.

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emsemergency medical servicesresearchpcrfeducationPrehospital Care Research Forum