A recent survey conducted by CCCC and EMSA, with more than 3,600 statewide respondents representing a wide variety of clinical disciplines and healthcare settings, demonstrated that California healthcare professionals continue to struggle with POLST knowledge and process.
Across all disciplines and settings, the average percentage of correct responses to POLST knowledge questions in the survey fell below 50% for 11 of 19 questions and below 5% for 4. Only one question received an average percentage of correct answers above 70%.
POLST Champion Certificate
To address these deficiencies and provide opportunities for comprehensive or refresher education, CCCC announces a new, comprehensive certificate program to train and support POLST CHAMPIONS to serve as their organization’s or community’s POLST expert. Click here for the full program brochure.
Why?
The state of California will soon launch a statewide POLST eRegistry; in preparation for this launch, each healthcare organization across the state should have a qualified POLST Champion expert to guide implementation.
Who?
The POLST Champion can be any clinician working primarily with patients with serious illness who would benefit from discussing, documenting, and communicating preferences for treatment in the POLST medical order set. Signing providers – MD/DO, NP, or PA – are especially appropriate for this role.
What?
The POLST Champion Certificate program includes:
- 10 online training modules
- In-person skills training
- Examination
- Ongoing support/coaching and community
- Certificate continuation requirements
Once completed, the Certificate is valid for 3 years.
For individuals just wanting to increase their POLST competency,
the online training modules are also available “à la carte.”
Online Topic Modules
POLST Topics Modules cover key components of the POLST process, purpose, form, validity, content, signatures, and legal requirements. All the modules were offered live to start, but are now available on-demand.
Each module is 30 minutes, including didactic content and a real-world case study by a POLST expert. An additional 15-minute Q&A was included in each of the live presentations and has been summarized in a handout for the on-demand trainings.
The POLST Champion Certificate program registration includes these modules: no separate registration is required. Certificate participants must complete all of these:
POLST 101
Overview of POLST history, process, and form requirements and utilization for all sectors and disciplines.
POLST Eligibility/Appropriateness
Why use POLST and with whom (including minors); when NOT to use POLST and what to use instead to document code status.
Case study by Karl Steinberg, MD, CMD, HMDC, HEC-C, Hospice by the Bay
POLST Form
What makes a POLST valid; section-by-section content; who can complete/how to complete; signatures/signers; managing the form; reviewing and revising.
Case study by Vincent D. Nguyen, DO, CMD, Hoag Hospital
POLST and Other Advance Medical Directives
Relationship between POLST, prehospital DNR, AHCD; what does each do/not do; when to use which form; which form takes precedence when; rules around honoring the directives.
Case study by John Tastad, MA, Coordinator, Advance Care Planning program, Sharp HealthCare
POLST and Legally Recognized Decision Makers/Surrogates
Who qualifies as a legally recognized decision maker for POLST; limits of their authority; when they can sign POLST; when they can revise or override POLST.
Case study by Sarah Hooper, JD, Executive Director, UCSF/UC Law SF Consortium on Law, Science & Health Policy
POLST for Incapacitated/Unrepresented Patients
Determining incapacity; seeking a surrogate; requesting a PPR for a SNF resident; convening an IDT for a SNF resident; signatures for a SNF resident; incapacitated/unrepresented patients in the hospital.
Case study by Yarin Ascencio, MSW, Office of the Long-Term Care Patient Representative
POLST for Minors
How/when to use POLST for pediatric (infants, children, and teens) patients.
Case study by Christy Torkildson, PhD, RN, PHN, FPCN, HEC-C, Associate Professor, Grand Canyon University/Director, Children’s Hospice and Palliative Care Coalition of California
POLST and Cultural/Religious Sensitivity
Communicating with non-English speaking patients; interpreter vs. family member; using POLST translations; treatment choices in cultural/religious contexts.
Case study by Sandy Chen Stokes, RN, PHN, MSN, Executive Director, Chinese American Coalition for Compassionate Care
Online Setting-Specific Modules
These modules focus on implementation of POLST in different healthcare settings. Each is one hour (30 minutes didactic content; 15-minute case study with examples of real-life situations presented by an expert; 15 minutes Q&A).
The POLST Champion Certificate program registration includes these modules; no separate registration is required. Certificate participants must complete two of these: one for the setting in which they are working and one “adjacent” setting: e.g., SNF and EMS; Hospital ED and Hospital Inpatient; Specialty Care/Palliative Care, etc. Settings include:
- EMS/first responders
- Primary Care/Specialty Care
- Hospice
- Hospital Emergency Department
- Hospital Inpatient
- Palliative Care
- Skilled Nursing Facility
- Home Health
In-Person POLST Skills Training
After completing the online modules, Certificate participants must attend this full day, hands-on training, which concentrates on the POLST conversation: techniques for introducing POLST, determining capacity, describing the treatment choices, eliciting values, answering questions, identifying qualified surrogates, completing and managing the form, and more. Practice in presenting POLST to other clinicians and communities included. Participants receive abundant materials to support their role as POLST Champion.
- June 24, 2026: O’Connor Mortuary Chapel & Crematory, Laguna Hills (rescheduled from April 29; registration cutoff is May 26)
- October 14, 2026: DoubleTree by Hilton San Jose (registration cutoff is September 14)
Examination
Conducted at the In-Person Skills Training, this 45-question test will cover all aspects of the POLST online training modules and skills day. Participants must achieve at least an 80%-correct score to pass. The examination can be retaken once without any repeat of the trainings.
Certificate Continuation Requirements
To maintain POLST Champion status, participants must:
- Participate in at least 3 bi-monthly “Office Hours”/year
- Report 1x/year on POLST Champion activities: education provided, questions or issues that have come up, QA/QI projects, etc.
- Complete 6 hours of POLST or POLST-related education over the 3 years, which can include hours of POLST presentations GIVEN as well as education RECEIVED.
Office Hours
All successful POLST Champions will be eligible to attend regular bimonthly Zoom calls in which to discuss questions that have come up and discuss answers; consider “tough” POLST cases; and share resources. Includes access to an online closed community discussion forum.
Certificate Renewal
After three years, participants must meet the requirements of Certificate Continuation and pass a renewal examination.
Continuing Education
Click here for complete details on continuing education offerings for this program.