The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Program  Comfort Care Order (CCO) allows patients diagnosed with a specific medical or terminal condition to express their wishes regarding end of life resuscitation in the pre/post-hospital setting.

The Program requires that a patient's attending physician issue, certify and sign a Comfort Care Order (CCO) that states the patient (adult or child) has a specific medical or terminal condition. The patient, or his/her authorized decision maker or surrogate, must also consent and sign the CCO (verbal orders are not valid). The physician then places a plastic Comfort Care bracelet on the patient.

When EMS personnel respond to calls for either cardiac or respiratory arrest related to the condition of a Comfort Care patient, they would recognize and honor the Comfort Care bracelet by not resuscitating the patient, unless the Order has been revoked.

The Order may be revoked at any time by communicating the intent to revoke the order or by destroying or defacing the Comfort Care bracelet.

Authority

DC Law 13-224 authorizes and establishes procedures and protocol for do not resuscitate orders in the District of Columbia and will be managed by the Government of the District of Columbia, Department of Health (DOH), Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Administration (HEPRA). This law also provides for the administration of palliative care to those who have executed a valid EMS Comfort Care Order

Point of Contact

DNR Coordinator
64 New York Avenue NE
Suite 5000
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 671-0673

The following resources about the Comfort Care Program are available: