The Plan

The plan itself includes some or all of the following various components:

Diagnostic component - orders for labs, orders for xrays or other imaging, orders for further diagnostic testing and consulting during visits with other office providers and personnel.

Therapeutic component - Special diets, exercises, restrictions, physical, occupational or speech therapy orders, orders for casts or splints, recommendations and orders for mental health orders.

Referrals - Specific orders to providers or specialty types for further evaluation or specialized medical treatment.  For Fred this might mean a referral documented here to a podiatrist, a cardiologist, and/or a neurologist.  Finally, prescriptions should be documented here in this section.  This should include both new prescriptions for drug therapy as well as refills for chronic medications.

Patient education component - Specific teaching for the use of medications may be included here, as well as teaching for self care/home care such as teaching a patient to give their own insulin injections or how to keep a blood sugar, blood pressure, or temperature log.

Disposition component - discharge to home in the morning, return to office in two weeks, follow-up in one month, no follow-up, return as necessary, etc.