Patient Frequencies

[Willow Moonsidhe]

Anyone good at explaining patient frequencies? If so please help. I keep getting the little things wrong like 3 wk 1 is that for 3 weeks nurse will visit one time a week. grr Place I worked before the secretary help with this.

Thanks

~Willow

[twinpumpkin]

It is set up like this...

The first # is the number of visits per week. The second # is the # of weeks you are doing that # of visits.

Example: 3wk1 = 3 times a week for 1 week.

A certification period is 9 weeks long, so your total of the 2nd #s must equal 9.

Example: Pt was dc'd from hospital status post MI and was admitted to HH.

The frequency is determined by the admitting RN.

So, this patient's frequency may be:

2wk3 effective MM-DD-YYYY, then

1wk6 effective MMDDYYYY

for a total of 9 weeks and 12 total visits.

Hope this helps! Good luck!

[Willow Moonsidhe]

Thanks so much!

~Willow

[Kyasi]

Here are some examples of how our agency writes frequencies: we generally always give a range so we don't have to write Missed Visits if a client cancels or we can't staff the shift for some reason.

SN 1h/day, 1d/wk x 9 wks for assessment of VS, all body systems, and to fill med planner.

HHA 2-3h/d, 2-3d/wk x 9wks for ADL's and IADL's.

RHHA up to 5 hrs/d, 1-2d/wk plus 3 prn x 9 wks for ADL's, IADL's, and Caregiver Relief. Hours vary according to caregiver needs.

Writing frequencies can be very frustrating especially for our respite cases. We aren't allowed to split the 9 weeks up like I've seen some do here. Such as: HHA 2h/d, 1x/wk x 2wks, then 2h/d, 2x/wk x 3wks, then 2h/d, 3/wk x 4wks. This would never fly. Also, we can't ever use the phrase "for the remainer of the Cert period". Sometimes I wonder who makes up these rules, the state or the agency. But we have had enough state surveys and they really pick apart how frequencies are written, so I guess the way we do it is a result of a few surveys.

Kyasi

[annaedRN, RN]

we do not always write for a full 9 weeks if we feel that the goals will be met in less than. For example, if a patient on IV antibiotics for 4 weeks. It may be 3w1 then 1w3. The first week 3 for teaching and return demonstration then the next 3 weeks for weekly visits for central line dressing change and labs. Would probably put in PRN visits and can always write order for more if IV meds are extended.

[Willow Moonsidhe]

Thanks these help a lot.

~Willow

[Kyasi]

I think there is a real difference b/t Medicaid and Medicare frequencies. I can see for Medicare where you would write them for shorter time frames. I work for a Medicaid only agency so all of ours are 9 weeks. Often, the payor source dictates our frequency, such as for Respite care.

Kyasi