Audience

Clinical users completing admissions (RN/LVN/LPN), clinical managers, and physicians reviewing/signing admission documents.


Purpose

This article explains how HospiceWorks establishes the Plan of Care on Day 1 using the Initial Physician Order (IPO) and how HospiceWorks then automatically builds the Initial Plan of Care (IPOC) during the admission build window—so users understand what to complete, what auto-populates, and how to finalize the IPOC.

Quick Summary

  • Day 1 Plan of Care is established by the Initial Physician Order (IPO).

  • At admission, HospiceWorks creates the IPOC automatically and sets an effective date 5 days after admission by default.

  • As admission documentation is completed, information flows into the IPOC automatically, reducing duplicate entry.

  • The RN reviews, signs and locks the IPOC, then HospiceWorks routes it for physician signature(s).

Key Definitions

Initial Physician Order (IPO)

The physician order set completed at admission that establishes the Plan of Care on Day 1, including patient-specific orders, visit frequencies, and service authorizations.

Initial Plan of Care (IPOC)

The structured plan-of-care output that HospiceWorks builds automatically from admission documentation and is finalized through the RN Sign & Lock process.

Where to Work in HospiceWorks

IPO Navigation

  • Patient Chart → Admission / Orders → Initial Physician Order (IPO)
    (Your internal menu label may vary based on configuration.)

IPOC Navigation

  • Patient Dashboard → Care Management → IDG / Comprehensive POC

The IPOC is located within the IDG / Comprehensive POC view.

Part 1: How HospiceWorks Establishes the Plan of Care on Day 1 (IPO)

What “Day 1 Plan of Care” Means in HospiceWorks

HospiceWorks establishes the Plan of Care immediately at admission through the IPO, so services begin under active, patient-specific orders from Day 1.

What the IPO Includes (Day 1 Plan of Care Foundation)

The IPO establishes Day 1 care by including orders and authorizations such as:

  • Admission Orders templates (Quick Select)

  • Medications

  • Treatments

  • DME and Supplies

  • Discipline assignments and visit frequencies

  • Level of Care

Admission Orders Templates (Quick Select)

To speed admission ordering and standardize common hospice authorizations, the IPO includes selectable template groups such as:

  • Symptom Management – General Authorizations

  • Safety & Support Orders

  • General Treatment Authorizations

  • Authorized Hospice Services

Best practice: Select only what applies to the patient and tailor details as needed.

Part 2: How HospiceWorks Automatically Builds the IPOC (Admission Build Window)

IPOC Auto-Creation + Default Effective Date

At admission, HospiceWorks automatically creates the IPOC and assigns a default effective date 5 days after admission.

Why this matters: This creates a structured build window that allows admission data to flow into the IPOC as it is completed—supporting a complete IPOC without duplicate documentation.

What Auto-Populates Into the IPOC

The IPOC automatically builds using completed admission components, including:

1) Initial Nursing Assessment (INA)

The INA establishes the baseline clinical findings that support plan content.

2) CTI (Certification of Terminal Illness)

When completed, CTI content supports plan documentation and aligns with the admission clinical story.

3) Signed IPO (Orders Drive the Build)

Once the IPO is completed and signed, the plan can pull in the ordered components that drive care delivery (services, frequencies, medications, treatments, DME/supplies, etc.).

4) Care Plans Completed in Care Plan Management

Care Plans (Problems, Goals, Interventions) completed during admission support IPOC completeness and survey-readiness.

5) Medication-to-Care Plan Linking (When Needed)

If medications were entered without care plan linkage, HospiceWorks supports linking afterward so the plan remains organized and complete.

Part 3: Step-by-Step Workflow (Admission → IPO → IPOC Finalization)

Step 1 — Complete the Initial Nursing Assessment (INA)

  1. Open the patient chart after admission

  2. Complete the INA from the assigned tasks/workflow

  3. Ensure required assessment content is completed for admission

Tip: Completing the INA early improves downstream accuracy in CTI, orders, and plan build.

Step 2 — Complete the CTI (if applicable to your workflow order)

  1. Complete the CTI after the INA

  2. Confirm accuracy of diagnoses and narrative support content

Step 3 — Complete and Sign the Initial Physician Order (IPO)

  1. Open the IPO

  2. Select appropriate Admission Orders Quick Select templates (as applicable)

  3. Add/confirm patient-specific:

    • Medications

    • Treatments

    • DME/Supplies

    • Visit frequencies / discipline assignments

  4. Finalize the IPO and obtain signature per your process

Important

  • The IPO is what establishes the Plan of Care on Day 1.

  • The IPO also drives what flows into the IPOC automatically.

Step 4 — Complete Care Plans in Care Plan Management

  1. Open Care Plan Management

  2. Review draft care plans created from ordered items (as applicable)

  3. Finalize:

    • Problems

    • Goals

    • Interventions

Tip: Completing care plans earlier in the build window prevents last-day rush and supports a complete IPOC for sign/lock.

Step 5 — Link Medications to Care Plans (if not already linked)

If medications were entered without care plan linkage:

  1. Go to Patient Dashboard → Medications → Medication List

  2. Select Manage on the medication

  3. Link the medication to the appropriate care plan (when applicable)

System behavior: Alerts related to unlinked medications should clear once resolved.

Step 6 — Review, Sign, and Lock the IPOC

  1. Navigate to: Patient Dashboard → Care Management → IDG / Comprehensive POC

  2. Review IPOC content for completeness and accuracy

  3. RN signs and locks the IPOC

  4. HospiceWorks routes the IPOC for physician signature(s) as required

Common Questions

“Do I need to complete both the IPO and the IPOC?”

Yes—because they serve different roles:

  • IPO establishes the Day 1 Plan of Care and drives orders/services immediately

  • IPOC is the consolidated plan output that is automatically built and then finalized through Sign & Lock

“Why does the IPOC show a default effective date 5 days after admission?”

That default date supports the admission build window so the IPOC can be automatically populated as the INA/CTI/IPO/Care Plans are completed.

“What if the IPO isn’t signed yet?”

The IPOC may be incomplete until the IPO is finalized/signed because signed orders drive the plan build. Complete and sign the IPO as early as possible during admission.

“What causes IPOC to feel incomplete?”

Most common reasons:

  • Care plans not finalized in Care Plan Management

  • IPO not signed

  • Medications not linked (when linkage is required in your workflow)

Best Practices

  • Complete INA early to support accurate downstream documentation

  • Use Admission Orders Quick Select templates to speed ordering while staying patient-specific

  • Ensure IPO is signed promptly to activate plan build and reduce delays

  • Finalize Care Plans early (Problems/Goals/Interventions)

  • Perform IPOC RN Sign & Lock after admission items are complete to trigger routing