MDS Alert

Care Area Assessments:

CMS Official Dishes on Documenting Nutritional-Related Issues for CAAs

The RD's note should explain this critical information.

If your dietitians are looking for some tips for documenting Care Area Assessments, CMS' Sue Albrecht, MS, RD, shared some advice on that topic at the recent ADA Dietetics in Health Care Communities conference, as reported below by Becky Dorner, RD, LD, in her blog (http://blog.beckydorner.com).

"The key is to be sure that you document why you did or did not address an issue in the nutrition assessment and/or nutrition notes. Under section V, it is fine to write in 'See RD notes,' but if you do that then you must be sure that you documented why you did or why you did not address nutrition issues. In other words, make sure that if you refer them back to your assessment that you thoroughly documented appropriately in the assessment.

For example, let's say the resident's BMI was >25.9 which triggered for a CAA and you chose not to intervene. Did you document why you chose not to intervene? (An example might be that this resident has been at this same body weight -- their usual body weight -- for 20 years and does not want to lose weight.)"

Editor's note: The above excerpted paragraphs are based on Becky Dorner's write-up of Albrecht's presentation. Used by written permission.

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