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Prehospital Care Research Forum (PCRF) Journal ClubAuthor: Prehospital Care Research Forum
The UCLA Center for Prehospital Care established the Prehospital Care Research Forum (PCRF) at UCLA in 1992 in cooperation with JEMS Communications. The PCRF Journal Club is a bi-monthly online meeting that critically evaluates published research and its relevance to prehospital care. We aim to promote healthy and respectful discussions that challenge present and future prehospital care practices. Each session is facilitated by a panel of experts, PCRF board members, and associates. Language: en Genres: Health & Fitness, Life Sciences, Medicine, Science Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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What Counts as a DNR in EMS Protocols? Wristbands, POLST, Verbal Orders
Episode 3
Wednesday, 11 February, 2026
In this month’s journal club episode, we tackle a topic every EMS educator and clinician wrestles with: how do you honor a patient’s end-of-life wishes when they call 911? We unpack a structured review of U.S. EMS protocols and the wide variation in what counts as a valid Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order, from physician-signed forms to bracelets, POLST-style documents, and even verbal orders. We’ll discuss how these differences can lead to moral distress and affect goal-concordant care, and why understanding the nuances of DNR documentation matters for field providers, system leaders, and anyone who wants to ensure patient wishes are respected in the out-of-hospital setting.
