Although similar, the Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) is different from an advance medical directive in several ways. For one, the POLST is a portable medical order. This means that emergency responders and care providers can access it anytime and anywhere and follow its directives, even outside the healthcare facility. This is unlike an advance directive, which emergency providers may not be aware of. For instance, when an emergency provider responds to an emergency outside the facility, they will do all it takes to save the individual, even if s/he has an advance directive. But, with a POLST, they will be aware of the patient’s wishes and follow them. Also, while any adult, including healthy adults, can get an advance directive, the POLST is specifically for critically ill and older people who are likely to experience a life-threatening emergency. However, the POLST doesn’t replace an advance directive, and you can have them both.