About TPOPP

The Transportable Physician orders for Patient Preferences (TPOPP) program in Wichita-Sedgwick County is designed to improve the quality of care people receive at the end of life by translating their treatment goals and preferences into their medical orders. TPOPP is based on communication between the patient or their surrogate (legally designated decision maker) and their physician and health care providers that ensures informed medical decision-making occurs.

TPOPP is modeled on the Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) paradigm, developed in the 1990s, and is one of more than 45 such efforts currently underway nationally to address these important issues.

The Wichita TPOPP Steering Committee was formed in spring 2012 when health care leaders gathered to explore the TPOPP concept. In April 2013, Via Christi Health, Wesley Medical Center and the Medical Society of Sedgwick County signed a charter statement signifying their commitment to sponsor the TPOPP initiative in Wichita-Sedgwick County.

The Center for Practical Bioethics in Kansas City, MO is promoting a bi-state TPOPP Coalition in Kansas and Missouri. The Center for Practical Bioethics is coordinating TPOPP projects with training, monitoring and evaluation tools.

The commitment of Ascension Via Christi, Wesley Healthcare and the Medical Society of Sedgwick County is fundamental to the development of the TPOPP program in Wichita. These partners recognize and respect the value of approaching the end of life with a physician order that results from a conversation between the patient, family members or loved ones and the physician and other members of the patient’s health care team. TPOPP is discussed in private when a patient is facing a chronic advanced or terminal illness. It is intended as a tool for end of life planning.

By supporting a proactive approach to end of life planning,  TPOPP partners hope to change the culture in Wichita and Kansas toward one that embraces dying with dignity.”