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Coding Item C0700: Short-term memory OK

MDS 3.0 Update, March 7, 2011

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To assess the mental state of residents who cannot be interviewed, an intact 5-minute recall indicates greater likelihood of normal cognition. To complete item C0700 on the MDS 3.0, the RAI User’s Manual provides the following steps:

1. Determine the resident’s short-term memory status by asking him or her:
   -- to describe an event 5 minutes after it occurred if you can validate the resident’s response, or
   -- to follow through on a direction given 5 minutes earlier
2. Observe how often the resident has to be re-oriented to an activity or instructions
3. Staff members also should observe the resident’s cognitive function in varied daily activities
4. Observations should be made by staff across all shifts and departments and others with close contact with the resident
5. Ask direct care staff across all shifts and family or significant others about the resident’s short-term memory status
6. Review the medical record for clues to the resident’s short-term memory during the look-back period

You should then identify and code this item according to the most representative level of function.

• Code 0, memory OK, if the resident recalled information after 5 minutes
• Code 1, memory problem, if the most representative level of function shows the absence of recall after 5 minutes

For more in-depth guidance on MDS 3.0 coding and processes, attend our MDS 3.0 Boot Camp. The MDS 3.0 Boot Camp is an intensive training program that focuses on accurate completion of the new MDS 3.0 assessment and links the assessment process to clinical standards of care, quality outcomes, and reimbursement.

Using a combination of lecture, class discussion, and exercises, this intensive, four-day course gives you:

• Section-by-section guidance on MDS 3.0 completion
• A system-wide approach to improving accuracy and the bottom line
• Advice on how to use internal data, time management techniques, and internal review processes to reduce error rates
• A method to benchmark the MDS process based on outcomes

For more information about our MDS 3.0 Boot Camp, download the brochure or call our customer service team at 800/780-0584.
 

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