The Context of Use Perspective

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There are three different contexts of use. The differentiating characteristics are: the level of complexity and the duration for which the type of [care] plan is used/remains active.

Level 1

This is the simplest of all the types of plan used with limited scope and complexity.

It may be referred to as "treatment plan".

The Subject/Target

• Patient/subject of care

The Author(s)

• Patient's primary care provider/general practitioner
• Patient's specialist provider in clinic or hospital practice

Scope and Complexity

• Provider centric
• Problem-oriented
• Part of SOAP documentation
• Within boundary of single disciple and single care setting/organization

Timeframe/Duration of Use

• Encounter-based (i.e. a new/different plan is generated per encounter)
• Or problem-based (i.e. the same plan may get revised on subsequent encounter/visit until problem requiring care is resolved)

Level 2

This type of plan is used in managing patients with more complex conditions during an episode of care (usually of limited duration)

This type of plan is often referred to as "care plan"

The subject/target

• The patient/subject of care

The author(s)

• The patient's health care provider(s)

The Scope and Complexity

• Provider-centric
• Problem-oriented: involving one or more problems
• Across multiple disciplines/departments (e.g. involving treating physicians/surgeons, nurses, allied health providers, social workers)
• Within the boundary of same health care sector/organization

Timeframe/Duration

• Problem(s)-based: plan in use and subjected to changes in response to changing patient condition
• Episode of care-based: plan in use until the episode of care (e.g. hospitalization) is completed