When should the initial care plan be completed after admission?

• A. Within 14 days
• B. Within 7 days
• C. Within 21 days
• D. Within 30 days

Answer: (A)

Timely planning helps the care team coordinate everything a patient will need from the start. After someone is admitted, a thorough, multi-disciplinary assessment is done to identify needs, set goals, and determine the services required. Completing the initial care plan within about two weeks gives enough time to gather input from the patient and family, review medical information, and craft clear, measurable goals and interventions, while still enabling services to begin promptly. Doing it sooner could risk missing important details from the full assessment, and waiting longer than a couple of weeks can delay care and hinder continuity.