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OASIS Alert - 2012; Volume 13, Number 12
Item Focus:
M2002 and M2004: Meet Three Requirements with Medication Follow-Up and Intervention
Warning: Your time is limited with these items.Medication related issues are a major cause...
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OASIS Accuracy:
Establish an Effective OASIS Review Process
Automated audits can save time and money.If your OASIS review process isn't up to snuff, y...
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Build Your Own Audit Tool
Building a custom audit tool for your agency can help you gather the most pertinent inform...
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What is a Clinically Significant Medication Issue?
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services leaves it to the provider's clinical judg...
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Tool:
Look Beyond M Items with Auditing
Follow these steps for improved outcomes and quality measures.Your auditing and review eff...
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Studies:
Welcome this Newly-Validated Fall Risk Assessment Tool
Look for a boost in your Home Health Compare scores.Have you been frustrated by the lack o...
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Outcomes:
Don't Overlook Mental Impact of Trauma on Ambulation Outcomes
Your hip fracture patients are at risk.If you're looking to boost your outcomes for improv...
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OASIS Outcome Measures
Improvement in Ambulation/Locomotion is one of nine publicly reported Outcome Measures bas...
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Strategy:
Build Confidence To Improve Hip Fracture Therapy
You can help patients "work through their fear of falling" in the following ways, says Kat...
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ICD-10 Update:
It's Time to Get Ready for ICD-10
Get started by coding your top 10 or 20 diagnoses in ICD-10.Oct. 1, 2014 is the official I...
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Industry Notes:
Industry Notes:
Study Boosts Pneumonia VaccineYour patients may receive better protection against pneumoni...
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OASIS Alert - 2012; Volume 13, Number 11
Item Focus:
M1340: Keep Up On CMS Guidance or Risk Reimbursement for Surgical Wounds
Warning: You can't rely on clinical reasoning and logic for this item.The OASIS wound item...
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Avoid This Scarring M1340 Mistake
Make sure you're using the correct 30-day count.As if figuring out which wounds qualify as...
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Tool:
Keep this Chart Handy when Answering M1340
Stay up-to-date on OASIS Q&As for greatest accuracy.OASIS item M1340 -- Does this...
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Prospective Payment System:
Home Care Providers Give CMS an Earful Over M1024 Changes
Proposed update could reduce payment by an average of $200 per episode.CMS asked for comme...
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Take a Closer Look at these Diagnoses On the PPS Chopping Block
Say goodbye to a slew of resolved conditions and hello to less detailed reporting.The chan...
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Home Health Quality Reporting:
CMS Proposes Changes to Acute Care Hospitalization Reporting
OASIS data may prove more accurate than claims data, agencies say.The 2013 Home Health PPS...
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Diagnosis Coding:
3 Steps Lead the Way to Accurate Surgical Wound Coding
Remember: Complications nix aftercare.The surgical wound codes you list in M1020 and M1022...
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Industry Notes:
It's Finally Coming: ICD-10 Set For Fall 2014
Don't get too relaxed with one-year delay.If you've been holding off on your ICD-10 implem...
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Reader Question:
Is Mammosite a Surgical Wound?
Question: Our patient has a "Mammosite," a device implanted in her lumpectomy site. She re...
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Reader Question:
Look to Approach with Kyphoplasty
Question: Is the site resulting from a kyphoplasty procedure considered a surgical wound w...
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Reader Question:
Does Tunneling Make the Difference with PICCs?
Question: Are tunneled PICCs considered a surgical wound?Answer: Peripherally inserted cen...
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OASIS Alert - 2012; Volume 13, Number 10
Item Focus:
M1320: Take 3 Steps to Identify the Status of Most Problematic Pressure Ulcer
Hint: You'll list NA in only one situation.Accurately reporting the status of your patient...
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OASIS Review:
Correct 3 Mistakes for a Flawless OASIS Review Process
Employ just one tip to save time and money.An effective OASIS review process can boost out...
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Tool:
Head Off OASIS Errors with a Case Conference Approach
Stop errors before they start with this strategy.Establishing a weekly case conference can...
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Education:
Protect Yourself Against HIPAA Pitfalls
Plus: bone up on coding changes that could impact reimbursement. You can receive vital...
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PPS 2013:
Brace Yourself for Major Case Mix Changes
Resolved diagnoses slated for big points changes?The lack of cuts to the prospective payme...
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Case Mix:
Watch for Grouper Change with Certain Case Mix Categories in Proposed Rule
Watch for Grouper Change with Certain Case Mix Categories in Proposed RuleThe Centers for ...
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Check These V Codes Approved for Use with M1024
The following V codes were included in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' l...
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Industry Notes:
Industry Notes:
Don't be surprised to see your acute care hospitalization (ACH) outcome data change. CMS p...
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Reader Question:
Get Answers to Your Neuro/Emotional/Behavioral Status Questions
Cognitive functioning status won't always relate to confusion status.Question: What is the...
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OASIS Alert - 2012; Volume 13, Number 9
Item Focus:
M0110: Keep Reimbursement Flowing with Accurate Episode Timing
Episodes provided by your agency aren't the only ones to consider when calculating timing....
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Quiz:
Test Your M0110 -- Episode Timing Skills With These Scenarios
Is it safe to answer 'Early' or 'Unknown' for every patient?Think you know how to answer M...
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Medical Review:
Prepare for New Focus on OASIS Accuracy
This MAC has your M2030 responses in its crosshairs.Brace yourself for OASIS-related takeb...
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Know these Common Types of Elder Abuse
Injuries in the skin folds should arouse suspicion.Injury and weight loss may be obvious s...
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Assessment:
Look to the OASIS for Signs of Patient Abuse And Neglect
Home can be a dangerous place for elders. People age 80 and older are abused and negle...
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Diagnosis Coding:
Master Resolved Condition Reporting with V Codes
Secure accurate reimbursement with proper sequencing.Reporting a history V code may seem l...
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Industry Notes
If you've been dreading the switch to ICD-10, you're not alone. The American Medical Assoc...
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OASIS Alert - 2012; Volume 13, Number 8
Item Focus:
M2400: Get All the Credit You Deserve for Plan of Care Best Practices
Plus: Find out how to safeguard your agency against dings when you must answer 'No.'OASIS-...
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Training:
Looking to Improve Your Case Mix? Correct These 3 Common Errors
Hold regular OASIS training to see a positive impact on case mix -- and reimbursement...
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Tool:
Follow These Steps to Find the Right M2400 Response
Clip and save this handy diagram.Not sure how to answer M2400 for your patient? This flowc...
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Train and Train Again to Get Case Mix Right
Try this expert technique to improve OASIS accuracy.Once you've studied your agency's case...
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Education:
Master Late F2F Encounters
4 scenarios to help clear up your questions.Question 1: True or False? When you generate a...
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Clip and Save:
Track Case Mix Variables with This Essential Table
Keep tabs on points for diagnoses, OASIS answers.Calculating case mix points isn't as easy...
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Diagnosis Coding:
Could 2015 Be the Winning Number for ICD-10?
Commenters express strong opinions on proposed delay.Opinions about the upcoming transitio...
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Industry Notes:
Industry Notes:
The feds want some things to change in home care, the HHS Office of Inspector General indi...
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OASIS Alert - 2012; Volume 13, Number 7
Item Focus:
M2250: Get All the Credit You Deserve for Plan of Care Best Practices
Work from 'NA' to 'Yes' to make the right response selection.When the Centers for Medicare...
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Tool:
Simplify Plan of Care Synopsis with a Fax Template
Streamline your orders requests with this handy form.Getting the orders you need to take c...
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Medical Review:
Bolster Documentation to Keep Long-Stay HTN Claims Secure
Do you know which OASIS data items can help you prevent HTN denials?If you're listing an u...
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Corrections:
Make Changes to OASIS Assessments Correctly or Pay a Heavy Price
Recent fraud case underscores the importance of a compliant correction policy.Incorrect OA...
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ICD-9 Coding:
Don't Risk Case Mix Points for CAD
Know CABG status to nail CAD code. You can earn case mix points in M1020/M1022 when re...
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ICD-10:
Secure Angina Pectoris Details for CAD in ICD-10
Help clinicians improve chest pain documentation.Once ICD-10 goes into effect, you'll have...
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Industry Notes
Have you been puzzling over how to collect and submit OASIS data with a missed Face-to-Fac...
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Cover Your Bases with a Solid Correction Policy
What will you do when the assessing clinician is unavailable to sign off?A workable OASIS ...
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Reader Question:
Don't Read into 'Or' with Moist Wound Healing
Question: OASIS item M2250g asks whether the physician-ordered plan of care includes press...
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OASIS Alert - 2012; Volume 13, Number 6
Item Focus:
M2030: Don't Miss Points for Injectable Medications
Tip: Safe disposal of needles or syringes counts for this item. It's difficult to garner ...
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OASIS Guidelines:
Banish These SOC OASIS Misconceptions
Not every visit made to complete the comprehensive assessment and OASIS is billable. Accu...
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Tool:
Improve OASIS Data Collection with an Assessment Form
Conducting the comprehensive assessment is complicated enough without worrying about how ...
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Assessment:
Boost Outcomes When You Evaluate Confused Patients
Begin your dementia screening with OASIS. Are you too quick to assume a patient is being ...
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ICD-9 Coding:
Keep Manifestations in Order or Risk Coding Accuracy
Know these index cues to find the right manifestation code. An update to the Home Health ...
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ICD-10 Update:
Master ICD-10 Manifestation Coding
Welcome these diabetic manifestation coding changes. You'll be happy to learn that the gu...
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Industry Notes
CMS Proposes One-Year Delay For ICD-10 Been wondering how to make contingency plans since...
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Reader Question:
Who Can Sign Orders?
Question: We have operated under the guidelines that a physician must sign all home healt...
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Reader Question:
Put Initial Assessment First
Question: I have a question about the order of visits in a new episode when there are phy...
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OASIS Alert - 2012; Volume 13, Number 5
Item Focus:
M1840 and M1845: Don't Overlook Toileting Tasks
Patients with ostomies needn't managing the equipment to score as independent in hygiene....
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Medical Review:
Avoid Therapy CERT Errors Or Risk Denials
Report only therapies the patient receives at home in M1030. It's no surprise that inadeq...
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Process Measures:
Take a Team Approach to Medication Management
Non-compliance with medications isn't always willful. Ineffective medication management i...
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Try These Medication Management Strategies
An occupational therapy referral may help your patient manage his medication better. Ever...
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ICD-9 Coding:
Let Etiology and Behavior Documentation Guide Dementia Coding
Take note of sequencing rules for 294.1x. You can be relatively certain that a dementia d...
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Compliance:
Will Lax OASIS Submissions Earn Your Agency a 2 Percent Penalty?
New OIG report questions home health data collection and reporting practices. If you have...
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Industry Notes
Expect medical review scrutiny in some new areas, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid...
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OASIS Alert - 2012; Volume 13, Number 4
Item Focus:
M1810 and M1820: Don't Miss These Details in Dressing Assessments
Tip: Take advantage of physical assessment of the heart and lungs to evaluate abilities n...
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Try These Dressing Assessment Approaches
Even little reminders impact the correct dressing response. Assess your patient's dressin...
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Take a Closer Look at How OASIS Dressing Items Impact Reimbursement
When combined with a Neuro diagnosis, these items can fetch up to eight clinical severity...
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Assessment:
Are Cultural Disconnects Tanking Your Pain Outcomes?
A stoic patient may be masking pain. Your answers to the OASIS pain items are being share...
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Use 'Preserve-Accommodate-Repattern' for Better Outcomes
Try the LEARN technique to establish better pain management. You can have a positive impa...
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Try Using the Pain Interview Approach
Ask probing questions to better understand pain. Many common pain assessment tools miss t...
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ICD-9 Coding:
Save Time and Improve Coding Accuracy with These Simple Steps
Try streamlining processes with a coding worksheet. The documentation you provide your co...
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Make Changes by The Book
Always thoroughly document the rationale for changes to the OASIS. Before a coder changes...
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Quality:
Implementation Makes the Difference in Reducing Rehospitalization
Accountability is the key to success with this outcome. Nearly 20 percent of Medicare pat...
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Industry Notes
Preventing falls is one of the measures stressed in this year's National Patient Safety G...
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Clip-&-Save:
Improve Communication with This Coding Worksheet
Tool gives coders all the information they need for accurate code assignment. Setting a s...
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Reader Question:
Consider these M1016 Regimen Change Scenarios 'NA'
Question: The response-specific instructions for M1016 -- Diagnoses requiring medica...
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OASIS Alert - 2012; Volume 13, Number 3
Item Focus:
M1610: Fine Tune Your Approach to Incontinence Assessment
Drainage tube or pouch? Your response can depend on this detail. You could be missing out...
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Try These Incontinence Intervention Strategies
Did you know: Incontinent patients experience more frequent falls? As a patient advocate,...
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Therapy:
Safeguard Claims with OASIS-Centered Therapy Documentation
You may have good assessment information, but do you know how to mesh it with the OASIS? ...
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Clip and Save:
Streamline Discharge Data-Gathering with this Look Back Tracking Tool
Even if you don't use this form as a printed sheet, it can still guide your processes. Th...
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OASIS Guidance:
Welcome Integumentary Instruction With Manual Updates
Manual changes minimal, but help provide consistency. With the new year comes a new OASIS...
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ICD-9 Coding:
Keep a Close Watch on Vision Coding
Your patient may have a visual deficit but that doesn't mean you should list a 369.xx. Yo...
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Medical Review:
Prevent Denials with OASIS Keys
Proving medical necessity gets trickier in second and later episodes. One way to protect ...
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Documentation:
Nail Down Home Care Benefit Eligibility
Use this checklist from one HHH MAC to guide your eligibility assessments. Before you con...
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Industry News
Who will you be completing OASIS assessments for in coming years? You can look to a new s...
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Reader Question:
Know When a Homebound Patient can Receive Outpatient Therapy
Question: We are a small home health agency and we don't offer speech therapy. We have a ...
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OASIS Alert - 2012; Volume 13, Number 2
Item Focus:
M1242: Watch Non-Verbal Cues for Accurate Pain Assessment
Pain medication doesn't automatically mean your patient has interfering pain. You could b...
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Know When Past Pain Is Pertinent
Discontinuing an activity is one form of "interfering" with activity. The Centers for Med...
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Assessment:
Dig Deeper to Gather Pain Details
Increase your vocabulary to help patients describe their pain. Getting an accurate pictur...
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Training:
Correct Pain Discrepancies to Improve Accuracy and Patient Care
Do you know what qualifies as severe pain? Assessing a patient's pain is just the first s...
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Diagnosis Coding:
Mitigate the Pain of Pain Diagnosis Coding With These Tips
Don't assign a pain diagnosis code for every patient in pain. When your patient's OASIS ...
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Therapy:
Fix Therapy Documentation Disconnects with 3 Expert Tips
Work together to get documentation in synch. Therapy use continues to garner scrutiny in ...
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Integumentary:
Try Your Hand at a Tricky M1308 Scenario
At Recert, it's safe to answer "0" in Column 2 if you've answered "0" in Column 1. OASIS ...
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Documentation:
5 Guidelines Yield Audit-Proof Record Corrections
Documentation clarifications can be a big help -- if you use them wisely. With the p...
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Medical Review:
Avoid Late Entry Red Flags
When does a clarification hurt instead of help? Don't let the fear that your OASIS won't ...
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Industry Notes
Don't expect to have an episode's worth of lag time when switching over to the new prospe...
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OASIS Alert - 2012; Volume 13, Number 1
Item Focus:
M1830: Don't Count on Interviews to Assess Bathing Ability
Are time constraints negatively impacting your agency's bottom line? You can earn up to s...
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4 Tips to Clean Up Bathing Assessments
Try these strategies for accurately answering M1830 -- Current ability to wash entir...
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Get the M1830 Case Mix Breakdown
OASIS bathing ability item M1830 earns additional case mix points for a response of "2" o...
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Quiz:
Put Your M1830 Skills to the Test
Does preference impact bathing ability? How well do you know your way around M1830 -...
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Integumentary Items:
Keep Pressure Ulcers in a Row for M1308
Column 2 asks whether the ulcer was present -- don't let a change in stage trip you ...
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Tool:
Check Your Pressure Ulcer Answers at a Glance
Not all unstageable pressure ulcers are unmeasurable. Responding to the OASIS pressure ul...
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Q&As:
Update Your Pressure Ulcer Answers with the Latest from CMS
The OASIS-C pressure ulcer items are some of the most difficult to answer. Fortunately, t...
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ICD-9 2012:
ICD-9 2012ICD-9 2012: Master New V Codes, Complication Codes and More
New guidelines warn against coding complications "just because." The 2012 update marked t...
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Human Resources:
Help Your Employees Buy In To Change
Tip: Explaining why the change is necessary is essential for managers. The home care indu...
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Industry Notes:
Beware Falls Problems For Patients With Poor Eyesight
You should consider putting your patients who have diminished eyesight on the watch list ...
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Reader Question:
Know Who Can Sign the F2F
Question: Who exactly is authorized to sign the face-to-face document? A co-worker believ...
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