Skip to content

Advance Directives and Out-of-Hospital Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders

Sets out how the Agency gives every adult patient written information about the right under Pennsylvania law to accept or refuse treatment and to make an advance directive, records whether the patient has one, keeps copies in the clinical record, respects living wills, health care powers of attorney, health care representatives and out-of-hospital do-not-resuscitate orders, never conditions care on having a directive, and protects staff who decline to take part in withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment.

Preview: full text with a package
About this policy
Policy number
PA-HH-PR-02
Version
1.0
Main rule
20 Pa.C.S. Chapter 54
Library
Pennsylvania home health · 56 policies
Category
Client rights
Sections
18

In short

  • Give every adult patient the advance directive information (Form PA-HH-PR-02-A) before any care is provided.
  • Ask for a copy of any living will, health care power of attorney or out-of-hospital DNR order, and make sure the record shows clearly whether the patient has one.
  • Never treat a patient differently because they do or do not have an advance directive.
  • In an arrest: with a valid DNR order, bracelet or necklace, do not start CPR, give comfort care and call your supervisor; with no order, start CPR and call 911.
  • If you tell us you cannot take part in withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment, we will reassign the patient; you will not be penalized.

What's inside

18 sections. The full text comes with the One-time Policy Pack.

Full text with a package
  • Terms of Reference
  • 1. Purpose
  • 2. Scope
  • 3. Definitions
  • 4. Policy Statement (20 Pa.C.S. Chapter 54)
  • 5. Information Given at Admission
  • 6. Recording Directives in the Clinical Record
  • 7. Living Wills, Health Care Agents, and Health Care Representatives
  • 8. Resuscitation and Out-of-Hospital Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders
  • 9. When the Agency or a Staff Member Cannot Comply
  • 10. Staff and Community Education
  • 11. Responsibilities
  • 12. Records and Compliance Monitoring
  • 13. Staff Training
  • 14. References
  • 15. Related Policies and Forms
  • 16. Approval
  • 17. Revision History

An inspector may ask

  • When does a new patient get your advance directive information, and where is that recorded?
  • Show me in this record whether the patient has an advance directive. Is it in a prominent place?

See Cura Core with your agency's name on it.

Choose your state and type of agency, buy your Policy Pack online and get your sign-in by email. Already a customer? Sign in to your portal.

Get startedSign in