The over-arching purpose of a care plan is to guide all those involved in the care of a patient and/or resident to provide appropriate treatments to achieve superior outcomes in a health care setting.

Care planning provides a road map to guide all who are involved with a patient’s care and needs that starts with an accurate and comprehensive assessment.  However, the care planning process is never fully completed until the patient and/or resident is discharged from their current care setting or passes. Due to this, the care plan needs to be fluid and changeable as the needs of the patient and/or resident changes.