OASIS-Central

Two new data elements in OASIS-C have been responsible for many questions submitted to Ask an Expert. Those data elements are:

• M0102, date of physician-ordered start of care (resumption of care)
• M0104, date of referral

Here are some important facts about these data elements:

• Enter all dates in eight-digit fashion—two-digit date and month, and four-digit year.
• The source of data for M0102 is physician orders to start or resume care. The source of data for M0104 includes the agency referral/intake form, inpatient facility discharge information, and other documentation in the patient’s clinical record.
• The date in M0104 refers to communication of referral information, not contact by family members or other staff to prepare the agency for a possible admission.
• Only one date will apply; there should never be dates in both of these data elements. If there is no physician-ordered start of care date, enter NA in M0102 and complete M0104 with the date of referral. If there is a physician-ordered start of care date, enter that in M0102 and skip M0104.

This is an excerpt from the article “Refine Referral Process for Start of Care Data Elements“ by Diane Omdahl, which originally appeared in the April  2010 edition of Homecare Direction. Learn more about Homecare Direction here!