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
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