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MDS Alert

Care Planning:
Heed These Expert Tips To Perfect Your Care Planning
Use this algorithm to write an effective goal statement. Care planning has become a hu... Read more
Tool:
Use A Behavior Monitoring Sheet To Improve Care Plan Communication
Simplify your efforts in behavioral care-planning processes. When you’re tacklin... Read more
How Critical-Thinking Skills Can Help You Navigate CAAs
Pose these questions to perfect your CAA process. The Resident Assessment Instrument (... Read more
Reimbursement:
PEPPER Reports: Clear Up Your Confusion Over Percent Vs. Percentile
You don’t want to be above the 80th percentile or below the 20th. If you’r... Read more
Section L:
Get The Dental Assessment Right - Your Step-By-Step Guide
Do you know all your ‘abnormal mouth tissue’ definitions? Although you can... Read more
Q0500:
Follow 5 Steps To Correctly Code 'Return To Community'
Don’t jump to conclusions about a resident’s ability to be discharged. Alt... Read more
Discharges:
Still Stuck On Discharge Assessment Rules? 3 Scenarios Show You The Way
Remember: Don’t code ‘return anticipated’ if resident will be gone for... Read more
Industry News to Use:
Get Ready For Heavy Scrutiny Of Your Hospital Transfers
Plus: Your therapy services are coming under fire, too. You may soon have a new qualit... Read more
Know These Crucial SNF Target Area Definitions
Learn what CMS looks at when finding improper Medicare payments. To understand your Pr... Read more
MDS 3.0:
Oops: Check Out 3 Corrections On Key Parts Of Revised RAI Manual Release
Take a second look at a much-changed ADL Algorithm. The ink is barely dry on the lates... Read more
Section G:
ADL Clarification: Gain Greater Understanding Through These Examples
What the manual tells you to do when Rule of 3 fails to provide answer. The recent cla... Read more
Checklist:
Follow 6 Steps To Comply With New Signature Requirements
What you must do when someone cannot sign. You have a lot of work to do if someone who... Read more
D0200:
Are You Conducting The Mood Interview The Right Way?
7 expert tips will help improve your interviewing techniques. You can fall into a mult... Read more
Q0300:
Quick Tips: Heed Reminders For Resident's Overall Expectation
Don’t factor into answers whether you feel expectations are realistic. Q0300 &md... Read more
What Do You Think?
Question: I did an MDS as a short stay but the RUG category came up as a clinical not a ... Read more
Industry News to Use:
Study: Your Next Dementia Fix Could Be Animal-Assisted Therapy
Also, here’s another RAI manual Appendix B update. Therapy animals help to ease ... Read more
RAI Manual:
Understand Key MDS Changes In The Newest RAI Manual Update
What the manual says about completing Z0400 when someone cannot sign the attestation. ... Read more
Section G:
How The 'Rule Of 3' Is Changing -- Again
What the algorithm looks like now (and when you should ignore it).   If the oth... Read more
Section K:
Get Ready To Count Calories In Section K
Expect a FY 2013 transition RUG in only specific situations. Take a quick look “... Read more
Section O:
Code New Item O0420 This Way To Comply With RAI Revisions
And understand what CMS expects from you during the transition period. Now you’l... Read more
Reimbursement:
Brace Yourself: How The Government Shutdown Will Affect You
Don’t expect most types of surveys anytime soon. When Congress failed to pass it... Read more
What Do You Think?
Question 1: We just realized we missed an annual on a resident in our facility. Should w... Read more
Industry News to Use:
Get Ready For These jRAVEN Updates
On Sept. 23, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced multiple u... Read more
Stay Up-To-Speed On All Other RAI Manual Updates
Clarification: You can’t set the ARD prospectively like you would other assessment... Read more
Staffing Strategies:
Follow 6 Tips For Smooth MDS Coordinator Staffing Transitions
How to keep MDS assessments on track when you have staff turnover. When one MDS Coordi... Read more
MDS 3.0:
Get Moving On Your Missing/Late Discharge Assessments
How a specific ‘reference date’ will affect your handling of tardy assessmen... Read more
Section P:
Consider Effect -- Not Intent -- For Physical Restraints
Know the definitions for different types of physical restraints. Although not prohibit... Read more
Beyond MDS:
Understand The Physical Restraint QM
What’s really counted in your quality ratings regarding restraints. If you use p... Read more
Section H:
Heed 4 Quick Reminders To Avoid Common Section H Errors
What to do if you’re looking for ‘fecal impaction’ in this section. ... Read more
Tool:
Checklist: MDS Coding for Physical Restraints
Are you using the right process for coding Section P? If you don’t have a solid ... Read more
Resident Interviews:
Put A Cork In It! How To Get Through Interviews With Chatty Residents
Hint: Interview techniques that you’re probably already using in other situations ... Read more
What Do You Think?
Question 1: Do I have to complete a 14-day assessment if I know there is going to be a C... Read more
Industry News to Use:
Keep Up the Good Work in Reducing Antipsychotic Use
Plus: Your resident’s same-sex spouse can now get coverage at your facility. You... Read more
Section C:
5 Key Tips For Performing Staff Assessment Of Mental Status
Beware: Use staff assessment in only this situation. When you’re performing the ... Read more
C1300:
Don't Get Confused Over The Confusion Assessment Method©
Avoid these common mistakes when coding Signs and Symptoms of Delirium. The Confusion ... Read more
Section F:
Beware Of 3 Major Areas Where You Can Make Mistakes In Section F
Are you doing appropriate follow-ups on responses to preferences? Section F: Preferenc... Read more
How To Make The Right Selection For C1600
Heed 3 ways to establish a baseline and compare behaviors. As you know, C1600 (Acute O... Read more
Section D:
What To Keep In Mind When Performing Staff Assessment Of Resident Mood
Why you’re not doing the standard PHQ-9© for D0500. Like the Resident Mood ... Read more
Pressure Ulcers:
Are You Completing The Pressure Ulcer Risk Determination Correctly?
If you’re missing these elements, you’re getting M0100 & M0150 all wrong... Read more
Heed Expert Tips For Coding M1040
When you can code a skin ulcer as a surgical wound. You’ve carefully staged all ... Read more
What Do You Think?
Question 1: I am confused about inactivation vs. modification. Can you explain the diffe... Read more
Industry News to Use:
How Your Facility Is Affecting Avoidable Hospitalizations
Plus: Antipsychotic use in nursing homes is decreasing. Your nursing home’s staf... Read more
Compliance:
Are You Performing Discharge Assessments Properly?
Tip: The discharge date must always match the ARD. Correctly coding discharge assessme... Read more
QAPI:
How To Create Your QAPI Plan
Complete these nine components to draft this ‘living document.’ If you hav... Read more
Follow 6 Steps To Draft Your QAPI Goals
Create vision and mission statements if you don’t already have them. Defining th... Read more
MDS 3.0:
Don't Let Dashes Do In Your MDS Coding
What to do when a resident’s gender is in question. The recent MDS 3.0 manual up... Read more
Section G:
Clear Up Your Confusion Over Revised 'Rule of 3'
Despite simple ‘copy edits,’ clarifications do little to clarify. Among th... Read more
Understand Proper ICD-10 Coding For Infected Surgical Wounds
Pay attention to 7th character in crosswalk for this diagnosis code. You’ll be r... Read more
ICD-10:
What To Keep In Mind During Your ICD-10 Preparations
Take advantage of CMS resources, partial code freeze reprieve. In little more than one... Read more
Quality of Care:
Good News: Your Quality Rating May Have Improved
But 1-Star nursing homes are still struggling. If the Nursing Home Compare 5-Star Qual... Read more
MDS News to Use:
Check Out These Changes To State RAI & MDS Automation Coordinator Lists
Also: Here’s where you can access the MDS Frequency Report. The Centers for Medi... Read more
Section G:
Beware Of 5 Major ADL Mistakes That Are Costing You Thousands
Crucial tips on coding this ‘love to hate’ MDS section. Section G0110: Act... Read more
RAI Manual:
Pay Attention To These Major RAI Manual Changes
CMS changes maximum resident scores for D0300. Effective May 20, the Centers for Medic... Read more
Check Out 5 New Examples To Perfect Your Section M Coding
RAI Manual update provides better explanation of M1040. Although the latest changes to... Read more
Section B:
Say What? 3 Quick Tips To Properly Assess Hearing
Why the presence or absence of a hearing aid is so important. Section B: Hearing, Spee... Read more
D0200:
Resident Mood Interview: How To Draw Out Insightful Responses
Hint: Use ‘disentangling’ to make complex questions easier. The Resident M... Read more
What Do You Think?
Question 1: It seems to me that coding injections in N0300 and for insulin again N0350 i... Read more
HIT:
Could More HIT, Less Face-To-Face Communication Improve Resident Care?
High-tech nursing homes have better overall communication, study finds. If you want to... Read more
Industry News to Use:
CMS Wants You To Change The Way You Medicate Dementia Patients
Surveyor checklist gives you an inside look at revisions. If you haven’t already... Read more
Section I:
Active Diagnoses: How To Juggle 2 Look-Back Periods
Is it really an active or an inactive diagnosis? MDS 3.0 coding is frustrating enough ... Read more
Nutrition:
4 Ways You Might Be Wrecking Your K0510 Coding
Hint: Your biggest battle may lie with K0510D Therapeutic diet. The K0510 Nutritional ... Read more
Meet All Conditions To Code I2300
Beware of UTI look-back exception for active diagnoses. As if the double look-back per... Read more
Pain Assessment:
Follow 7 Tips To Ensure Pain Assessment Interview Flows Smoothly
Make sure you’re coding J0850 this way. You can make a lot of minor — and ... Read more
Use These Decision Points To Complete J0200
Don’t discount all residents with cognitive impairment. Gathering resident infor... Read more
M0300:
How To Report The 'Unstageable' Pressure Ulcer
Check out these 4 scenarios to code tricky situations. You may not be able to stage th... Read more
Section L:
Quick Tips: Don't Let Oral Health Assessments Discourage You
How to make uncooperative residents relaxed and compliant. Performing oral health asse... Read more
What Do You Think?
Question 1: I live in the Midwest and my facility needed to be evacuated secondary to re... Read more
Industry News to Use:
You No Longer Need An Inactivation Request For Certain MDS Errors
Plus: Get ready for SNF pay increase? The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services... Read more
K0100:
Don't Choke On MDS Coding For Swallowing Disorder
Follow these expert tips to capture all instances of swallowing problems. If you&rsquo... Read more
O0500:
Meet These Criteria Before Coding Restorative Nursing Programs
Beware of ‘restorative care’ phrasing in the patient record. The O0500: Re... Read more
MDS 3.0:
Heed 8 Expert Tips For Successful Resident Interviews
Rule of thumb: Do you know the 5 key elements of active listening? You have a lot on y... Read more
O0500 Oops:
Avoid The Most Frequent Blunders
Learn how to properly code for CPM device use. O0500: Restorative Nursing Programs is ... Read more
MDS Coding:
O0100: Don't Make These 6 Common Mistakes
Tip: Capture all items, regardless of where the resident received the services. Unders... Read more
Learn By Example For Tricky O0100 Coding
Test your skill with these scenarios. Try your hand at these three scenarios for codin... Read more
Tool:
Form A 'Learning Circle' To Solve Critical Problems
How this communication method can improve understanding. Whether you need your staff t... Read more
Clip 'N' Save:
Ask These Questions In Your Learning Circle
Get each person’s response to garner profound insights. SAMPLE LEARNING CIRCLE Q... Read more
Industry News to Use:
Still Confused About Quadriplegia? CMS Offers Clarification
Plus: CMS issues several other updates during the recent SNF/LTC ODF. If you’re ... Read more
Compliance:
Your Discharge & Care Planning Are In The OIG's Crosshairs
Bombshell study reveals substandard care in SNFs. Brace yourself for intensifying scru... Read more
Resident Assessment:
Follow 3 Steps To Conduct A 'Brief Interview For Mental Status'
When should you conduct the BIMS -- and what’s the look-back period? Altho... Read more
MDS Coding:
Is Your MDS Coding Of Quadriplegia All Wrong?
When I5100 is not the right code for quadriplegic residents.     You mig... Read more
Resident Safety:
Disappearing Act: Heed 7 Risk Factors For Elopement
Plus: Determine behavior and travel patterns to weigh elopement potential. Resident wa... Read more
Compliance:
What Surveyors Will Scrutinize For Antipsychotic Medication Use
Follow 7 steps to comply with tightening antipsychotic guidelines for dementia patients.... Read more
Ask 8 Questions To Conduct A Thorough Pre-Psychotropic Assessment
Determine the resident’s ‘true needs’ before starting psychotropic med... Read more
What Do You Think?
Question 1: Can you explain the difference between active diagnoses and diagnoses that c... Read more
Quality of Care:
How Your State Ranks In Nursing Home Quality Measures
CMS releases the latest quality data for short- and long-stays.     The ... Read more
Industry News To Use:
Submit Your Suggestions On SNF Therapy Payments
Plus: Get the scoop on the MDS manual and data specs.   If you have ideas about... Read more
Follow The Rules:
Ensure The Proper Elopement Response
Prevent recurring elopement with the Investigative Protocol.     When yo... Read more
Resource:
Create a Strategy for Quality Improvement by Questioning Your QOI
CMS Quality Improvement Organizations can help you improve care and reduce costs. Do y... Read more
Research:
Study Finds Regional Variations in Antipsychotic Use in Nursing Homes
Residents in central south states more likely to get antipsychotic prescriptions. Over... Read more
Resource:
Institute of Medicine's Recommendations for Patient-Centered Care
Follow these strategies to achieve the best care at lower cost. Patient-centered care ... Read more
Business Builder:
Smart Technology Can Be the Key to Unlocking the Door to Person-Centered Care
Vanquish staff/resident resistance to its incorporation by following these field-tested ... Read more
Efficiency:
5 Tips Guarantee That You Stay on Track
To get a better grip on the amount of work you can complete in you work day, try the fol... Read more
Teamwork:
Highlight Your Team Strengths to Create a New Team Plan
Keep a record of the things your team does best and assign everyone a role that will bes... Read more
You in Focus:
How's Your Alignment? Correct Your Posture and Banish Aches and Pains
Bad posture can land you a repetitive stress injury. Stay healthy and active with these ... Read more
Workplace:
Cure Your Co-Worker Conflicts by Following These Tips
Avoid co-worker-induced stress with these tips. Whether you’re sandwiched betwee... Read more
What Do You Think?
Question 1: I have several residents whose charts are exploding. Is it really necessary ... Read more
Psychosocial:
Suicidal Threats May Not Mean an Automatic Trip to the ER
Experts show how not panicking is the first step. If a patient threatens suicide, do y... Read more
J1100:
Try Your Hand at 2 Shortness of Breath (Dyspnea) Examples
Whether you breathe easy when coding dyspnea scenarios or scratch your head, reviewing t... Read more
Survey Corner:
Don't Settle For Complacency Where Palliative Care's Concerned
Test your knowledge — and beware survey scrutiny. You hear a lot about palliati... Read more
Tool:
Check Out These Survey Guidance Specifics on Palliative Care
Although many important survey changes affecting palliative care are contained in the CM... Read more
Tool:
Learn These ABCs of End-of-Life Care
CMS suggests this short cut to covering the essentials of end-of-life care planning. A... Read more
J0300:
Here's How Assess and Code Pain Presence Correctly
Find out what questions you should be asking the resident. Is the resident in pain? As... Read more
Career:
5 Ways To Make Yourself Indispensable
Follow these tips to prove yourself to the higher-ups and get ahead. The best way to c... Read more
Corrections:
Corrections:
Do you have an eagle eye for MDS? The last issue included some misinformation. On pag... Read more
Quiz:
Cut Out Costly Micromanagement Mistakes
Standing over employees’ shoulders may send your good workers packing. As a supe... Read more
What Do You Think?:
What Do You Think?:
Question 1: What are the requirements for documenting ADLs? My staff usually documents o... Read more
Goals:
Resolve To Make This Your Best Year
With a little attention and focus, you can make your resolutions last all year long. F... Read more
You In Focus:
Use This Plan To Get Going In The Morning
Here’s how to start and finish each day on the right note. The beginning and end... Read more
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