Timely Initiation of Care
Timely initiation of care is a home health process measure showing the percentage of episodes in which care began within two days of the referral date, the physician-ordered start date, or the patient's inpatient facility discharge. It is publicly reported on Care Compare and is a component of the Quality of Patient Care Star Rating.
Definition
Timely initiation of care is a home health process measure showing the percentage of episodes in which care began within two days of the referral date, the physician-ordered start date, or the patient's inpatient facility discharge. It is publicly reported on Care Compare and is a component of the Quality of Patient Care Star Rating.
Why it matters
Timely Initiation of Care is part of the Quality & Outcomes vocabulary used across home health operations, documentation, and revenue cycle. Understanding it helps clinicians, QA leads, and administrators stay aligned on care quality and compliance.
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