Standard AOP.1.3
The hospital has a process for accepting initial medical assessments conducted in a physician’s private office or
other outpatient setting prior to admission or outpatient procedure.
Intent of AOP.1.3
When the initial medical assessment is conducted in a physician’s private office or other outpatient setting prior
to care in the hospital as an inpatient, it must be within the previous 30 days. If at the time of admission as an
inpatient the medical assessment is greater than 30 days old, the medical history must be updated and the
physical examination repeated. For medical assessments performed and documented 30 days or less prior to
admission, any significant changes in the patient’s condition since the assessment are noted at admission. This
updating and/or reexamination can be accomplished by any qualified individual. (Also see AOP.1.2 and
AOP.1.2.1 regarding the time frame and documentation requirements for initial assessments conducted in the
hospital)
When an assessment is partially or entirely completed outside the hospital (for example, in a consultant
surgeon’s office), the findings are reviewed and/or verified at admission as an inpatient, as appropriate to the
time between the outside assessment and admission, the critical nature of the findings, the complexity of the
patient, and the planned care and treatment (for example, the review confirms the clarity of the diagnosis and
any planned procedures or treatments; the presence of radiographs needed in surgery; and any change[s] in the
patient’s condition, such as control of blood sugar; it also identifies any critical lab tests that may need repeating).
(Also see AOP.4)