Which statement best describes a time-limited goal in care planning?

• A. It must have a time frame for completion.
• B. It must be decided by the physician.
• C. It has no deadline.
• D. It is always long-term.

Answer: (A)

Time-limited goals in care planning are defined by having a specific time frame for completion. That deadline lets the care team and the patient track progress, evaluate whether interventions are working, and adjust the plan if needed. It also creates accountability and helps organize follow-up actions and resources.

In practice, goals are a collaborative decision, not driven solely by the physician. A goal isn’t without a deadline—that would contradict the idea of being time-limited. And a time-limited goal isn’t necessarily long-term; it can be short-term or long-term as long as there is a defined deadline to reach the target. For example, “increase ambulation distance to 150 feet within 3 weeks” has a clear timeframe and can be measured.