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Within 48 Hours

Start of Care · Episode 1 · Free

Within 48 Hours

A Friday afternoon referral for Frank, just home after hip surgery. Brian wants to see him Tuesday.

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Key takeawayThe first visit can't waitThe initial assessment visit is due within 48 hours of the referral or of the patient's return home, or on the start date the physician ordered. The full comprehensive assessment must be finished within 5 days of the start of care. Call the patient the same day you get the referral, and document if they ask for a later date.

In this scene

Brian: New referral. Frank Novak, seventy-eight, home yesterday after hip surgery. I'll see him Tuesday.

Carmen: Tuesday is too late. Is there a start date in the orders?

Brian: No date ordered. I figured the first visit just needs to happen this week.

Carmen: The first visit happens within forty-eight hours of the referral or him getting home, unless the doctor orders a date.

Carmen: Then the full assessment is finished within five days of the start of care. The clock starts now.

Brian: Mrs. Novak? This is Brian, the home health nurse. Could I come see Frank tomorrow morning?

Questions to think about

  • No start date was ordered. The first visit is due:
  • The comprehensive assessment must be finished:
  • When do you call a new patient?

About this series

For home health nurses and therapists: the start-of-care in-home assessment. Timing, patient rights, homebound status, an accurate assessment, every medicine in the home, home safety, caregivers and emergency plans, screening, the patient's own goals, and closing the loop with the physician. Follow your agency's policies and the Medicare Conditions of Participation. See the whole series

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