Start of Care (SOC) Visit
Initial home health visit during which a comprehensive assessment is completed.
Definition
The Start of Care (SOC) Visit is the initial home health visit during which a comprehensive assessment is completed, including the OASIS-E assessment when required, and the plan of care is established.
Why it matters
The SOC visit begins the home health episode and establishes the clinical foundation for reimbursement, coding, and future visit planning.
Home Health Documentation Playbook
The complete guide to OASIS-E, Medicare compliance, PDGM, and AI-assisted documentation. Learn how top agencies reduce documentation time without sacrificing compliance.
Listen While You Read
Conversations on lupa & pdgm
Episodes from Inside Home Health that put Start of Care (SOC) Visit in operational context.
Ep 22Ep 22 · Jul 27, 2026
How AI Can Give Clinicians Their Time Back
Genevieve FomWatch 
Ep 23Ep 23 · Aug 17, 2026
The Hidden Spreadsheet Error That's Causing the Nursing Shortage | Robert Wingo
Robert Wingo, BSN, RN, NI-BCWatch 
Ep 21Ep 21 · Jul 20, 2026
Why Nurses Stop Using AI Tools After 90 Days | Jennifer Ngure
Jennifer NgureWatch
Related Blogs
SOC vs ROC vs Recertification: What's the Difference?
SOC, ROC, and Recertification all involve OASIS and Medicare documentation, but each serves a very different purpose. This guide breaks down what each assessment is, when it's required, how it affects reimbursement, and the mistakes agencies should avoid.
Is AI Documentation HIPAA Compliant?
Is AI documentation HIPAA compliant? Yes, but only when it's built for healthcare. This guide covers what HIPAA requires of AI documentation, the security features to look for, common myths, and the exact questions to ask before you share PHI with any AI vendor.