OASIS-Central

Fundamental Points about Best Practices

• Standardize, standardize, standardize:
  • Reduce variation, subjectivity in care planning and delivery
  • Reduce risk of omission, error in care delivery

• Focus on compliance:
  • Incorporate regulatory requirements, agency policy issues
  • Reflect Medicare coverage criteria

• Move forward at a pace that benefits patients and that the agency can manage

• Orders not necessary for assessment and teaching:
  • Nurses and therapists can assess, teach patients by virtue of licensure, experience
  • Actions listed on plan of care inform others of the plan for the patient

Implementing Best Practices

• Identify individuals or team
• Conduct research
• Compile, organize findings into a protocol, tool, form, or system
• Test the protocol or tool and revise as needed
• Develop policy and procedure for use in the agency
• Educate staff
• Monitor use of best practices
• Pay attention to the results

This information was adapted from Beacon Health’s audio conference, OASIS-C: What You Must Do Now! – The Good and Bad about New OASIS-C Data Elements , presented by Diane Omdahl. This series has concluded, but on-demand audio files are available for all past sessions. Find more information about audio conferences here.