Q:
How do you code a Kennedy ulcer in Section M of the MDS?
A:
A Kennedy terminal ulcer is not a pressure ulcer. It is believed to be caused by end-of-life organ failure, with skin being the largest organ of the human body. This does not meet any of the skin conditions listed in Section M and therefore would not be coded there. A physician’s diagnosis of Kennedy Ulcer should be present in the resident’s medical record.
Angie Hamer, RN, RAC-CT
Clinical Consultant
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