Post-Acute Care Section GG: Precision in Functional Coding
Presented by Ellen R. Strunk
Nonfinancial: Ellen R. Strunk has no competing nonfinancial interests or relationships with regard to the content presented in this course.
Functional abilities are important standardized data elements of the Minimum Data Set (MDS) collected in the skilled nursing facility (SNF) and other post-acute care settings, such as the inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF), long-term care hospital (LTCH), and home health agency (HHA). Despite their widespread use, there remains a lack of understanding about how to code Section GG items to ensure functional abilities are reflected accurately. This lack of understanding leads to inaccuracies with both assessment and documentation, which can negatively impact quality outcome scores and payment. This course will support clinicians by providing clinical training to ensure standardized (that is, consistent and accurate) Section GG self-care and mobility assessments for clinicians working in all post-acute care settings. This course is ideal for both nurses and clinicians working in post-acute care.
Learning Objectives
- Recognize the definitions of the rating scale used in Section GG in order to accurately assess patients in post-acute care
- Differentiate the abilities each self-care item is intended to capture for purposes of outcome measurement
- Differentiate the abilities the bed mobility and transfer GG mobility items are intended to capture for purposes of outcome measurement
- Differentiate the abilities the ambulation, stair, and higher-level GG mobility items are intended to capture for purposes of outcome measurement
Meet your instructor
Ellen R. Strunk
Ellen R. Strunk has worked in various roles and settings as a clinician, manager/director, and policy expert. Ellen is an expert at helping customers understand the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) prospective payment systems in the skilled nursing facility and home health settings, as well as outpatient therapy…
Chapters & learning objectives
1. The Rating Scale
This chapter will explain the rating system and define key terms used in Section GG. It will also examine the multiple purposes of the MDS, including care planning, payment, and monitoring care quality. At the end of the chapter, participants will understand the importance of their roles in the accurate completion of the MDS.
2. Self-Care Abilities in Section GG
This chapter will support clinicians working in SNFs, as well as in all post-acute care settings, by providing clinical training to ensure standardized (that is, consistent and accurate) assessments for self-care items in Section GG, such as eating, personal hygiene, and dressing. Inaccuracies in either assessment or documentation (or both) can negatively impact your quality outcome scores and ultimately your payment.
3. Mobility Abilities in Section GG: Part 1
This chapter will support clinicians working in SNFs, as well as in all post-acute care settings, by providing clinical training to ensure standardized (that is, consistent and accurate) assessments for bed mobility and transfers. Inaccuracies in either assessment or documentation (or both) can negatively impact your quality outcome scores and ultimately your payment.
4. Mobility Abilities in Section GG: Part 2
This chapter will support clinicians working in SNFs, as well as all post-acute care settings, by providing clinical training to ensure standardized (that is, consistent and accurate) assessments for ambulation, stairs, and wheeling. Inaccuracies with both assessment and documentation can negatively impact your quality outcome scores and ultimately your payment.
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