OASIS-Central

Why isn’t wound care included in M1810 and M1820?

Casey Ramsdell — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:18:31 +0000

Q: Why isn’t wound care included in M1810 and M1820? The ability to change a wound dressing is relevant to the patients ability to dress him/herself. The dressing applied to the wound is part of the patients current everyday wear during the time the wound is healing. So it is current normal wear. Please advise. A: [...]

Follow-up and Other Follow-Up Assessments

Casey Ramsdell — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:49:19 +0000

The follow-up/recertification (FU) assessment must be completed when a patient is being recertified to continue care for additional episodes. The regulations require that a comprehensive assessment be completed at least every 60 days, and this must occur in the five-day window (days 56–60) before the end of the current episode. Example The start-of-care date of a patient [...]

Physician Verification of Diagnoses Is Important

Casey Ramsdell — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 20:29:46 +0000

Diagnoses play an important role in supporting reasonable and necessary services. The diagnoses must correlate with the services the agency provides. The primary support for the patient’s plan of care comes from the principal diagnosis. The pertinent diagnoses listed first can also support the plan. Other diagnoses identify relevant comorbidities. [...]

In reference to M2250, if the patient has an antidepressant medication on the medication profile, but no symptoms per the standarized tool, can the clinician choose “No”?

Lu Post — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 18:44:51 +0000

Q: In reference to M2250, if the patient has an antidepressant medication on the medication profile, but no symptoms per the standardized tool, can the clinician choose “No”? A: M2250, Plan of Care Synopsis reports whether the physician-ordered plan of care includes depression interventions (including medications). The presence of an existing antidepressant medication is considered a [...]

When completing an OASIS, do we compare the patient’s condition and age against other patients of the same age group?

Lu Post — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 20:33:58 +0000

Q: When completing an OASIS, do we compare the patient’s condition and age against other patients of the same age group? A: When completing an OASIS assessment, clinicians should perform an independent assessment of the patient’s condition, with no comparisons to other patients, situations or age groups. When CMS publishes outcomes, items used to compare agency [...]

Utilization Outcomes in 2010

Casey Ramsdell — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:13:36 +0000

A utilization outcome suggests but does not always reflect a change in health status. Some of these outcomes, such as acute care hospitalization, also relate to the utilization of healthcare services because of the change in health status. The data elements in the transfer and discharge assessments provide the specifics for calculating utilization [...]

Fall Prevention Interventions: Evidence-Based Best Practices

Casey Ramsdell — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 17:27:51 +0000

Evidence-based practice is defined per the Disease Management Association of America as using the best scientific evidence available to guide clinical decision-making. Investigating scientific evidence such as best practice research that is available through the National Guideline Clearinghouse Web site (www.guidelines.com) or the APTA Web site (www.apta.org) leads agencies to multiple best practice components necessary [...]

CMS Releases OASIS-C Guidance Manual Errata

Casey Ramsdell — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 18:59:22 +0000

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has posted an errata sheet that lists revisions to the OASIS-C Guidance Manual since December 2009. Find the document here.

Depression Intervention and Monitoring

Casey Ramsdell — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 19:53:09 +0000

Guidelines for Clinicians OASIS-C has several new items to measure processes of care. Care processes refer to the use of assessment tools (included in a comprehensive assessment) or the planning and delivery of specific clinical interventions. The question we are discussing here is M1730, which relates to screening for depression. This OASIS-C question is designed to [...]

Agency Competence: Clinical Records, Part II

Casey Ramsdell — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 16:56:36 +0000

Homecare episodes can be tracked by “events”—admission, resumption, new orders, recertification, discharge. Clinical record evaluation should address each one. Admission and recertification Ensure that all required documentation is present, whether via hard copy or as indicated by electronic processing of the admission. Conduct reviews related to OASIS in conjunction with review of other record documents. OASIS should not [...]