>>(from Butterfly) We call it a health care directive.>>
No, a POLST form is not called a healthcare directive. Medical staff should refer to it as a POLST. Specifically:
"Differences between an advance directive and a POLST Form: Unlike advance directives, a POLST summarizes the patients' wishes in the form of medical orders. An advance directive is a legal document that allows you to share your wishes with your health care team if you can't speak for yourself."
See question #6 in the FAQ link, below. The POLST form was created to supplement the advance directive/healthcare power of attorney as an
expansion and substitution for the DNR (do not resuscitate) order. There have been a number of cases where the DNR was ignored by emergency teams or waived by healthcare agents; thus the POLST form was developed for those who are seriously ill, to cover multiple situations.
POLST FAQs:
http://www.polst.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/2016.04.03-POLST-FAQs.pdf