MDS Coordinators/ RN or LPN Assessment Coordinators

I HAVE A QUESTION. PAGE 3-100 IN THE UPDATED MDS MANUAL, THE EXAMPLE (RES PERFORMED ALL THE TASKS OF PERSONAL HYGIENE EXCEPT SHAVING. THE BARBER VISITED HIM ON THE UNIT 3 TIMES A WEEK TO SHAVE HIS THICK BEARD) THEY HAVE IT CODED AS A 3 2. I WOULD HAVE FIGURED SINCE HE DOES ALL OF HIS OWN PERSONAL HYGIENE I WOULD HAVE CODED IT AS A 2 2. THE SAME SENARIO. A WOMAN DOES ALL OF HER OWN CARE AND DRSG AND ONLY NEEDS HELP BRUSHING HER LONG HAIR, AND ITS ALSO CODED AS A 3 3. AGAIN I WOULD HAVE CODED IT AS A 2 2. IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE CODED THESE 2 PEOPLE?

THANKS ,
CHRISTINE

I would have coded both as a 3/2 (because that is the right way to do it AND it's the way the RAI - AKA MDS bible - states to do it!)

I teach this way:
Supervision (#1) = talk
Limited (#2) = touch only with an opened hand. (Like w/ the weeble-wobbley little ole lady walking down the hall - open hand just guiding them to keep their balance)
Extensive (#3) = closed hand &/or your muscles are involved (but resident also participates at least w/ something)

Therefore it would take a closed hand to hold and "power" the brush/razor. This makes it an extensive assist.


I find to many people that think limited = "little bit of help", extensive = "lot of help". This is wrong!

WOW! this is great........I've been doing MDS's for 10 years now and never had the coding explained in this way. I printed it off and took it to work and plan on talking to my director, who also does MDS's. It's a huge help in trying to figure out exactly how to code something. Got any hints on section E? Sections E and G on new admits... I hate 'em! But I know, it all boils down to the documentation we have to follow up on and if the staff nurses don't understand the coding criteria, we have to decipher it, but then our deciphering doesn't match the charting......

i answered my own question after i thought about it... its still physical assist and that meets the criteria

In my definition - the MDS is a total look at the resident - head to toe, inside and out, strengths and weaknesses. Generates the reimbursement for Medicare residents, helps to design the care plan for all residents - a tool to make one really look at the resident - I've had some real "ah HA!" moments when doing some MDS', kinda makes you use your critical thinking skills more. Just my 2 cents worth.....

When I took over this position the late transmissions were at 25% and now it is @ 11.34 % less than a year a later. There are also improvements noted in scheduling of the MDS assessments.