Ask Proactive – I have recently been directed, when completing the PHQ-2 to 9, that if a resident acknowledges a symptom, but is unable to give a frequency, I should dash both questions (column 1 and 2). Is this correct?

by | Oct 1, 2025 | Coding, Compliance, Depression, MDS, Medicaid, Medicare, Nursing, PDPM, Reimbursement

Q: I have recently been directed, when completing the PHQ-2 to 9, that if a resident acknowledges a symptom, but is unable to give a frequency, I should dash both questions (column 1 and 2). Is this correct?   A: No, this is incorrect. If a resident answers “yes”...

Ask Proactive – We’ve been receiving complaints from residents and families about slow call light response times. What are some simple interventions we can put in place to improve this?

by | Sep 24, 2025 | Compliance, Nursing, Quality

Q: We’ve been receiving complaints from residents and families about slow call light response times. What are some simple interventions we can put in place to improve this?   A: A few practical steps can make a big difference: Acknowledge quickly: If you can’t...

Ask Proactive – I struggle with identifying Moisture Associated Skin Damage (MASD) from some pressure injuries. How can MASD and pressure injury be differentiated?

by | Sep 3, 2025 | Nursing, Pain, Pressure Ulcers, Quality, Wound

Q: I struggle with identifying Moisture Associated Skin Damage (MASD) from some pressure injuries. How can MASD and pressure injury be differentiated?   A: Differentiating between Moisture Associated Skin Damage (MASD) and pressure injuries can be challenging,...