5 Key Elements of an Effective OASIS Training Solution

Collecting accurate OASIS data in a timely manner can be a challenge for home health agencies.
Insufficient training allows mistakes to become chronic, slowing down the review process and delaying the ability to bill. Under the Patient Driven Groupings Model (PDGM), inaccurate assessment of functional impairments can reduce your average reimbursement by 15 percent.

OASIS data collection has wide ranging implications on outcomes and process measures, risk
adjustment, and reimbursement. How familiar your team is with key concepts and terminology
unique to OASIS will make or break accuracy. Agencies need an OASIS training solution that reduces costly errors, expedites the QA process, and is cost-effective.

With these important factors in mind, it may be time to take a fresh look at your organization’s
OASIS training program. Whether you’re refreshing your training processes or starting anew, use this checklist to ensure you’re getting the most out of the OASIS tool in your organization.

To find out all 10 expert recommendations for creating an effective OASIS training program, check out our recent guide “10 Steps to Consider When Creating an OASIS Training Solution for Your Staff.”

Introduce Key Concepts

Accurate OASIS data collection depends on a clear understanding of the rules that impact how data is collected and analyzed. Because OASIS data collection impacts both patient care and agency performance, it’s important that your clinicians are introduced to the key concepts and terminology unique to the OASIS tool during their onboarding and continue to review any changes and updates annually.

Understand the Fundamentals of Coding: ICD-10 Coding

The coding process is integral to agency compliance. It’s particularly important for clinicians, who are a critical element of the process, to fully understand the information required to support coding choices, its purpose, and the importance of clinical documentation as a whole. An improved understanding of these guidelines can not only help coders more efficiently complete OASIS coding tasks, but can also facilitate timely submission for reimbursement.

ICD-10 coding is one of the most difficult to master, so make sure that you have defined specific strategies for front line documentation to support coding compliance and that staff are able to articulate primary and secondary diagnoses as defined by OASIS guidance.

Collect Demographic and Care Planning Data

Demographic and clinical details gathered at the beginning of the assessment will set the stage for what needs to be done going forward and are crucial to establishing a comprehensive care plan. While some of this information may be provided as part of the referral, it’s the clinician’s duty to confirm that this information is current, accurate, and complete.

It is also important for the clinicians to understand how to fully address the patient’s needs in the care plan itself and how to document appropriately to support the diagnosis, abilities, and goals determined in the assessment.

Complete a System-by-System Assessment

Being able to identify common patient-specific risk factors such as sensory status, respiratory status, and elimination are vital for accurate assessment. For example, while something as seemingly simple as a visual assessment might seem like a quick box to tick, it can affect the patient’s ability to safely maneuver in the home if there are compounding issues with posture or environment. A ‘simple’ oversight can quickly affect accurate data collection.

Address Data Collection Issues at Discharge

There are specific items at transfer and discharge that must be thoroughly understood by the clinician to ensure consistency of data collection. These can include documentation for wound assessment, intervention synopsis, any fall events, discharge disposition, and use of emergent and inpatient care.

Increase Assessment Accuracy and Expedite Training with Our OASIS-E Course Series and Boosters

Ready to take the next step in your OASIS training? Expedite onboarding, provide annual refresher courses, and remediate skill gaps with our OASIS-E Course Series and OASIS-E Booster Courses developed in partnership with Diana ‘Dee’ Kornetti and Cindy Krafft. Our evidence-based training helps your staff improve accuracy, decrease the cost and time spent on documentation review, and provide the appropriate level of reimbursement.

Learn more about MedBridge’s Complete Solution for Home-Based Care.