LOA
Also written as: LOA — Leave of Absence
Temporary authorized absence from the psychiatric facility for therapeutic or personal purposes.
Full Definition
Leave of Absence refers to a planned, time-limited period when a patient is authorized to leave the psychiatric facility while maintaining their admission status. LOAs may be therapeutic (attending appointments, visiting family) or administrative (court appearances, medical procedures). The duration and conditions are specified by the treatment team, and the patient typically returns to the same bed. This differs from discharge in that the therapeutic relationship and treatment plan remain active.
Usage
Usage note: Capitalize as acronym in clinical documentation; specify duration and conditions when documenting.
In Context
- "The patient was granted a four-hour LOA to attend her daughter's graduation ceremony." — treatment plan
- "LOA requests must be approved by the attending physician and documented in the medical record." — facility policy