Which statement best differentiates an advance directive from a POLST/MOLST?

• A. They are the same thing; Both are legal documents.
• B. Advance directive is a legal document describing patient preferences for care, whereas POLST/MOLST is a medical order portable across settings.
• C. POLST/MOLST replaces the need for an advance directive.
• D. An advance directive only applies in hospitals; POLST/MOLST only outside hospitals.

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that advance directives and POLST/MOLST serve different purposes in guiding care. An advance directive is a legal document that records a person’s preferences for future care and may name a surrogate decision-maker; it outlines what kinds of treatments the person would or wouldn’t want if they become unable to speak for themselves, but it doesn’t function as immediate, actionable medical orders. POLST/MOLST, on the other hand, is a medical order completed with a clinician that translates those preferences into specific, current orders for treatment. It is designed to travel with the patient across settings (home, hospital, ambulance) and must be followed by providers in real time, including during emergencies. So, the advance directive describes preferences in a legally binding way for the future, while POLST/MOLST implements those preferences as portable, actionable orders for present care. They can and should align, and they complement each other in patient-centered planning.