The South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations (SDAHO) LifeCircle network continues to provide valuable resources and education to help individuals, families, and healthcare professionals navigate advance care planning decisions. One resource is South Dakota’s Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment (MOST).
MOST is a standardized medical provider’s order that is valid across all healthcare settings and facilities, including the home. Designed for individuals diagnosed with a terminal illness or those in the advanced stages of a chronic, progressive illness, MOST helps ensure a patient’s treatment wishes are clearly documented and honored across the continuum of care.
Signed into law in 2019 through Senate Bill 118, South Dakota’s MOST legislation established a patient-centered process that allows medical providers and patients to translate treatment goals and end-of-life preferences into actionable medical orders. MOST does not replace a durable power of attorney for healthcare. Instead, these documents work together to support informed healthcare decisions and ensure patient wishes are respected.
The SDAHO LifeCircle website offers a comprehensive collection of MOST resources for healthcare professionals, patients, and families, including:
- MOST forms in English and Spanish
- Informational brochures and trifold materials
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- South Dakota legislation and Department of Health resources
- Policy templates and implementation tools
- Educational presentations and recorded webinars
- Legal perspectives and advance care planning resources
- National POLST Paradigm information and additional support materials
MOST forms are completed voluntarily in consultation with a physician, physician assistant, or certified nurse practitioner and are intended for patients with a terminal illness whose life expectancy may be less than one year. The form outlines preferences regarding resuscitation, medical interventions, and other treatment decisions should the patient become unable to communicate their wishes.
Healthcare providers and community members are encouraged to explore the available educational materials and implementation resources through the SDAHO LifeCircle website.
For more information about MOST and advance care planning resources, visit LifeCircle Advance Care Planning Resources or learn more about South Dakota MOST at MOST information page.
