OASIS-Central

M1400 (SRFOD) – When is the patient dyspneic or noticeably short of breath?

• Identifies patient’s level of exertion/activity that results in a patient’s dyspnea or shortness of breath

CASE-MIX TIPS:

• If the patient uses continuous oxygen, the patient is to be assessed while he or she is using the oxygen.

• If the patient uses intermittent oxygen, the patient should be assessed while not using the oxygen.

• The responses represent increasing severity of shortness of breath.

• Asking the patient to perform activities during the assessment will aid in assessing for shortness of breath.

• Notice whether the patient is gasping for air while just carrying on a conversation.

• ICD-9-CM coding tip: The patient’s shortness of breath may or may not be a part of the patient’s coding. Shortness of breath has its own code, 786.05, which is a symptom code. Be aware that shortness of breath may be inherent in the coding of some diseases and, therefore, may not need to be coded separately. For example, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease would include that the patient has shortness of breath, so that symptoms would not be coded separately.

• Note that if the patient has shortness of breath and Response 2, 3, or 4 is marked, you receive the same number of points regardless of which you mark. No additional points are granted on this question for greater severity.

This is an excerpt from the book, Home Health Pocket Guide to OASIS-C: A Reference for Field Staff, Revised Edition by Melinda A. Gaboury, co-founder and CEO of Healthcare Provider Solutions, Inc.