Writing Goals
Christine Stone & Nancy Wanyonyi, PT
Reasons for Writing Goals
Help you plan the tx to meet the needs and
problems of the patient- goals should be set in
collaboration with patient
Prioritize treatment and measure effectiveness
To assist with monitoring cost effectiveness (for
purposes of 3rd party payment or patient self-
payment)
To communicate the therapy goals for the patient
to other healthcare professionals.
Types of Goals
Long term goals: Based on the
final outcomes expected by a
particular therapist. Takes into
consideration the total amount of
time the patient will be seeing the
therapist.
Pt will be independent with
dynamic sitting balance tasks
without UE support while sitting
in long sitting in bed for minutes
to allow pt to complete dressing
tasks.
Types of Goals
Short term goals: Based on
interim steps of achieving long-
term goals. These will be
frequently revised as pt
progresses towards long term
goals.
In 1 weeks, pt will be able to
maintain static sitting balance
without upper extremity support
for 2 mins with min assistance.
Structure of a Goal
Good goal for a patient care contains 4 elements:
A. Audience (who will exhibit the skill)
B. Behavior (what person will do)
C. Condition (under what circumstances- the position, the
equipment, and so forth that must be provided or be available for pt
to perform behavior)
D. Degree (how well will the behavior be done—number of meters,
number of repetitions, mm grades, degrees ROM)
Audience
Almost always the patient, can be the
family member
Pt will be independent in ambulation
with a walking frame for 25 meters.
Pt’s mother will be independent in
applying patients AFO’s daily and
monitoring skin integrity during and
after wear.
Behavior
Always a verb.
Object of the behavior must be
something that can be measured or
described accurately so you can
document when these goals are
achieved.
Pt will perform a stand-pivot
transfer from bed to w/c with mod
Assistance.
Pt will be able to state the 3 hip
precautions for his posterior-
approach THA.
Condition
Includes circumstances that the behavior must be
done or conditions needed for the behavior to occur.
Pt will amb with wheeled standing frame with min
A for 20 meters on level surfaces.
Pt will ascend 4 steps a rail, using straight cane.
Pt will be able to sit at edge of bed with no support
and reach 2” outside base of support.
Degree
Usually the longest portion of the goal. Includes minimal
number, percentage or proportion (3 out of 4 times). Also
includes any limitation or departure from a fixed standard,
or any distinguishing features of successful performance
Degree must be realistic, measurable, observable with a time
span, and expressed in terms of function when possible.
Goals must be SMART:
S- specific
M- measurable
A- achievable
R- realistic
T- timeframe
Degree
In 2 weeks, pt will be
able to perform sit-stand
transfers from chair
without armrests 10
times to improve
household transfers.
Example: STG
A. Audience
In 2 weeks, pt will Pt
ascend single curb
B. Behavior
independently using ascend
forearm crutches.
C. Condition
Curb
forearm crutches
D. Degree
single (curb)
independently
in 2 weeks
A. Audience
Example: Pt
In 3 weeks, pt will B. Behavior
increase R elbow increase R elbow extention
AROM
extension AROM to
10-120 degrees to C. Condition
improve pt’s ability (assumed use of goniometer)
to reach into cabinets D. Degree
at home. 10 degrees elbow flexion
in 3 weeks
Improve pt’s ability to reach
cabinets
Example:
A. Audience
In 2 days, pt will Pt
demonstrate pursed
lip breathing pattern B. Behavior
PLB
100% of time during
ambulation and C. Condition
performance of daily During amb and during
exercise program
exercise program to
increase ability to D. Degree
perform all ADL’s. To increase ability to
perform all ADL’s
100% of time
Functional Terms
May or may not include functional terms for
short term goals. Ultimately, because LTG are
to get a patient functional and should be based
on patient’s functional needs, goals should be
expressed in functional terms.
Can help a patient understand to focus of
therapy.
Time Span
Long Term Goals are functional goals set for a
week, month, a year, or longer. The time span set
is the total length of time seeing the patient. In
acute care, 3-5 days but with peds > 1 year.
Goals are revised if patient cannot reach goal
within the time span set.
Short term goals are set if seeing patient for
longer than ~2 weeks. Otherwise, LTG are the
only goals set and are just called “goals.”
Revision
Goals require revision if
1) Pt’s condition changes and will not allow
progression to functional level originally set
2) pt’s condition changes and allows
progression beyond the fxnal level set
3) time span set is no longer appropriate and
should be revised
Relationship to Problem List
Problems
Assessed
Goals should address
problems assessed
during evaluation STGs
STG’s and LTG should
speak to each other
LTGs
Example:
Yesterday’s 21 yo male with appendicectomy
Problems List?:
Example:
Yesterday’s 21 yo male with appendicectomy
LTG’s:
Example:
Yesterday’s 21 yo male with appendicectomy
STG’s:
