Q:

How should isolation be coded on the MDS since there is guidance to restrict movement around the facility as part of the COVID-19 prevention plan?

 

A:

 

You cannot code isolation on the MDS if it is only in place to prevent contracting the COVID 19 virus, the resident must be in isolation d/t active infection in order to code it.

Per the MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual, Isolation is coded only when:

  • The resident requires transmission-based precautions AND
  • Single room isolation (alone in a separate room) BECAUSE OF
  • An active infection (i.e., symptomatic and/or have a positive test and are in the contagious stage) WITH
  • Highly transmissible or epidemiologically significant pathogens that have been acquired by physical contact or airborne or droplet transmission.

Do not code if:

  • Resident only has a history of infectious disease (e.g., s/p MRSA or s/p C-Diff – no active symptoms).
  • Precautions are standard precautions.

Code for “single room isolation” only when all of the following conditions are met:

  • The resident has active infection with highly transmissible or epidemiologically significant pathogens that have been acquired by physical contact or airborne or droplet transmission.
  • Precautions are over and above standard precautions. That is, transmission-based precautions (contact, droplet, and/or airborne) must be in effect.


Blog by Shelly Maffia, MSN, MBA, RN, LNHA, QCP, CHC, Proactive Medical Review

Click here to learn more about Shelly and the rest of the Proactive team.