I'm at Liverpool University la vie cream Even before having the conversation among family members, it might make sense to have a conversation with the person's primary physician, according to Amy Vandenbroucke, executive director of the National POLST Paradigm program. POLST is an acronym for "physician orders for life-sustaining treatment" – specific and legally binding medical directives designed for seriously ill patients likely to confront life-or-death medical decisions in the near future.