MDS Alert

Coding Quizzer:

Put Your Calculator To The Task

Code this resident's tube feeding at K6a

Tackle the following scenario for coding at K6a (the proportion of total calories the resident received through parenteral or tube feedings) in the last seven days.

Mr. H has had a feeding tube since his surgery. He is currently more alert and feeling much better. He is very motivated to have the tube removed. He has been taking soft solids by mouth, but only in small to medium amounts. For the past week he has been receiving tube feedings for nutritional supplementation. As his oral intake improves, the amount received by tube will decrease. The dietitian has totaled his calories per day as follows:

          Oral      Tube

Sun.    500      + 2000

Mon.   250      + 2250

Tues.  250      + 2250

Wed.  350      + 2250

Thurs. 500      + 2000

Fri.     800      + 800

Sat.   800      + 1800

TOTAL 3450 calories (from oral intake) + 13350 (from tube)

How would you code the percentage of total calories this resident received from his tube feeding?

The coding options include:


0. None

1. 1% to 25%

2. 26% to 50%

3. 51% to 75%

4. 76% to 100%


Answer: To determine the correct coding choice, follow this calculation:

The resident's total calories = 3450 + 13350 = 16800.

To calculate the percentage of total calories by tube feeding:

13350/16800 = .7946 X 100 = 79%

Coding options:

0. None

1. 1% to 25%

2. 26% to 50%

3. 51% to 75%

4. 76% to 100%

Code "4" for 76% to 100%

Source: Adapted from RAI manual

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