OASIS-Central

Since the implementation of OASIS-C, one of the most frequently asked questions refers to the utilization of standardized tools in assessments and screenings.

The following is a breakdown of data elements which include the use of a standardized tool.

M1910, fall risk assessment
The data element: Has the patient had a multi-factor fall risk assessment (such as falls history, use of multiple medications, mental impairment, toileting frequency, general mobility/transferring impairment, environmental hazards)? The person completing the OASIS can answer:

• 0: No multi-factor fall risk assessment conducted
• 1: Yes, and it does not indicate a risk for falls
• 2: Yes, and it indicates a risk for falls

Purpose: According to the OASIS-C Guidance Manual, this data element identifies whether the home health agency has assessed the patient and home environment for fall risk characteristics. Patients under the age of 65 will be excluded from the denominator of the measure when publicly reported.

Standardized tool: The multi-factor falls risk assessment must include at least one standardized tool that has been validated as effective in identifying falls risk in community-dwelling elders, and which includes a standard response scale. The agency can decide to incorporate several tools, instead of just one, as long as one of the tools meets the standardized tool criteria.

Many homecare professionals are waiting for the Missouri Alliance Multi-factor Fall Risk Assessment to be validated, making it a standardized tool. According to the National Association of Home Care and Hospice, it has not yet met the requirements for validation. The tool can be used with a standardized, validated tool like Timed Up & Go (TUG) or Functional Reach Assessment. This will ensure that the requirements of the multi-factor falls assessment are met.

It is important for agencies to remember that, like all process data elements in OASIS-C, the agency doesn’t have to incorporate standardized tools. If standardized tools are not used, the agency must answer “0: No.” Agencies should research standardized tools to see what would work best for their patient population and implement their use into best practices for that particular data element.

This is an excerpt from the article “Using Standardized Tools to Improve Outcomes”, which originally appeared in the June 2010 edition of Homecare Administrator. Learn more about Homecare Administrator here!