RENEW and POLST:  an abbreviated timeline


August 1997.  We held our first meeting to explore whether to start a regional ethics network


May 1998.  RENEW adopted patient-treatment preferences (“POLST”) as our first project for Washington State.  A similar effort in Oregon took two years. 


March 2000.  RENEW applied to the Washington Department of Health (DOH) for pilot status to field-test POLST in Whitman and Spokane Counties. We began outreach to physicians, hospitals, Emergency Medical Services staff, and nursing homes.


The Washington State Medical Association (WSMA) funded our request for a PACE grant (Patient awareness and community education).  Also supporting our pilot study were the DOH and the Washington Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).


DSHS recognized POLST as a solution to the problem of informed consent for the patient lacking decisional capacity.  That is, legal surrogates with a physician order (POLST) can carry out a patient’s previously expressed wishes regarding end of life care.  


May 2005.  RENEW and WSMA launch a statewide campaign to implement POLST with a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Working to promote dialogue, collaboration, and problem-solving with regard to ethical issues across the continuum of health care.

Bill Bender, MD

Sally Denton, RN

Judy Myers, RN, PhD

John Osborn, MD

Jim Shaw, MD

Rose Mary Volbrecht, PhD