MediSys Team Makes The MOLST Of New Proxy Form

An educational DVD was recently released to health care professionals across New York State touting the revolutionary Medical Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) form and we are proud to announce that two members of the MediSys Health Network are featured in it.

The creator of the MOLST form, Dr Patricia Bomba, VP & Medical Director of Geriatrics at Excellus asked Bruce Flanz, VP and COO of the MediSys Health Network and Dr Alan Roth, FAAFP Chairman of Family Medicine, Ambulatory Care and Palliative Care Services at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center to appear on the video because of their integral roles in bringing the form to New York City.

The MOLST form was developed to provide individuals with a comprehensive and clear record of their end of life wishes. The form is to be completed by a health care professional, (ideally a member of a Palliative Care team), based on the wishes of the patient. Printed on bright pink paper, the MOLST form is easily identifiable in the case of an emergency and offers family members clear instructions on life sustaining treatments including CPR, feeding tubes, mechanical ventilation, and antibiotics just to name a few.

The form was developed in 2006 and used exclusively at upstate hospitals. After being introduced to the MOLST system, Mr. Flanz and Dr Roth quickly saw its benefits and began to introduce it at all three MediSys hospitals.

Currently, Jamaica, Flushing and Brookdale Hospitals are the only hospitals in the metropolitan region to exclusively use the MOLST form. Hopefully, their participation in the video, will spur their colleagues in the area to follow suit.