Initial Plan of Care (IPOC) Workflow

Overview

The Initial Plan of Care (IPOC) is a core part of the patient admission process. To keep things efficient, the system pulls data directly from initial assessments and uses built-in "guardrails" to keep the agency CMS-compliant. You must finalize the IPOC within five days of admission.

Workflow Steps

1. Finding the IPOC

Access the IPOC through the Patient Dashboard in the Tasks to Complete list.

  • Alerts: Check the dashboard for real-time notifications on due dates to see if the IPOC is pending or overdue.

  • Hyperlink: Select the "Complete Initial Plan of Care" task to go to the IDG History screen.

2. Effective Dates

The system creates an IPOC entry automatically when a patient is admitted.

  • Timing: The effective date defaults to 5 days post-admission to meet regulatory requirements.

  • Status: The document stays "In Progress" until all requirements are met and signatures are added.

3. Data Population

HospiceWorks pulls information from several areas to prevent double-entry:

  • Demographics: Basic patient details and terminal diagnoses.

  • Nursing Assessment: ADLs, mobility equipment, and triage levels.

  • Physician Orders: Once the Initial Physician Order is done, assignments, meds, DME, and supplies populate the IPOC.

4. System Guardrails

If you try to view or sign the IPOC before it’s ready, the system displays an "Unmet Requirements" warning. This usually means:

  • The Initial Physician Order isn't finished.

  • Care plans are still in "Draft" and haven't been activated.

  • Core discipline acknowledgments are missing.

5. Signing and Finishing

Once assessments and orders are complete:

  1. Review: Double-check that the Attending Physician, RN, and Social Worker are assigned in the Team section.

  2. Ready to Sign: The RN clicks the "Ready to Sign" button.

  3. Electronic Signature: Complete the two-step confirmation to apply the signature.

  4. Routing: The document is sent to the Medical Director and (if required by your agency) the Social Worker/Chaplain.

Note: While Social Worker and Chaplain assessments are part of the plan, their signatures aren't strictly required by the system to "complete" the IPOC, giving agencies some flexibility.

Keep your hospice documentation accurate and compliant. For support, email support@hospiceworks.com.