MDS 3.0 Item F0800I: Staff Assessment - Discussing Care with Family or Others

Introduction

Purpose: Residents in long-term care facilities often have preferences for how their care is communicated with family members or other significant individuals. MDS Item F0800I assesses whether staff have conducted an assessment to determine the resident’s preference for having their care discussed with family members or others, particularly when the resident is unable to communicate this preference themselves. This assessment helps ensure that the resident’s wishes regarding the involvement of family or significant others in their care decisions are respected.

What is MDS Item F0800I?

Explanation: MDS Item F0800I is part of Section F: Preferences for Customary Routine and Activities. This item evaluates whether staff conducted an assessment to determine if the resident prefers that their care is discussed with family members, friends, or other significant individuals when the resident cannot express this preference. Some residents may wish to involve their family or others in care discussions, while others may prefer not to. Conducting this assessment ensures that the resident’s preferences regarding family involvement in their care are respected.

Guidelines for Conducting and Coding MDS Item F0800I

Conducting the Staff Assessment: When a resident is unable to communicate their preference for involving family or significant others in care discussions, staff should assess this preference based on previous behavior, family input, and past interactions. Considerations include:

• Has the resident previously expressed a preference for discussing care with family members or others?
• Are there specific individuals the resident prefers to be involved in their care decisions?
• Have family members or caregivers indicated the resident’s desire to involve them in care discussions?

This assessment helps ensure that care planning aligns with the resident’s wishes regarding family involvement.

Coding Instructions: The coding for MDS Item F0800I depends on whether staff conducted an assessment to determine the resident’s preference for involving family or significant others in care discussions. The coding options are:

• 0 - No: No staff assessment was conducted to determine the resident’s preference for involving family or others in care discussions.
• 1 - Yes: A staff assessment was conducted to determine the resident’s preference for involving family or others in care discussions.

Example Scenario: If a resident cannot express their preference, and staff assess that the resident prefers family involvement in care decisions based on past behavior or family input, you would code F0800I as 1 - Yes. If no assessment was conducted, you would code F0800I as 0 - No.

Best Practices for Accurate Coding

Thorough Assessment: Ensure the staff assessment includes input from family members, caregivers, or past records. This helps identify whether the resident wishes to involve specific family members or others in care discussions.

Documentation: Document the sources of information used in the assessment, such as family interviews, previous resident records, or staff observations. Clear documentation ensures that the resident’s preferences regarding family involvement are respected over time.

Communication: Share the results of the staff assessment with the interdisciplinary care team. This ensures that the resident’s preferences for discussing care with family or others are reflected in their care plan and respected during interactions.

Training: Provide staff with training on how to assess and respect the resident’s preferences for involving family or others in care decisions. Staff should be aware of the importance of family involvement for some residents while also respecting the privacy preferences of others.

Conclusion

Summary: MDS Item F0800I ensures that residents who cannot communicate their preferences for discussing care with family or others still have their wishes respected. Conducting a staff assessment helps ensure that the resident’s preference for family involvement is honored, contributing to person-centered care.

Click here to see a detailed Step-by-Step on how to complete this item set.

Reference

This guide is based on the CMS's Long-Term Care Facility Resident Assessment Instrument 3.0 User’s Manual, Version 1.19.1, October 2024, Page F-5.

Disclaimer

Please note that the information provided in this guide for MDS 3.0 Item F0800I: "Staff Assessment - Discussing Care with Family or Others" was originally based on the CMS's Long-Term Care Facility Resident Assessment Instrument 3.0 User’s Manual, Version 1.19.1, October 2024. Every effort will be made to update it to the most current version. The MDS 3.0 Manual is typically updated every October. If there are no changes to the Item Set, there will be no changes to this guide.

This guidance is intended to assist healthcare professionals, particularly new nurses or MDS coordinators, in understanding and applying the correct coding procedures for this specific item within MDS 3.0. Additionally, this guide refrains from handling personal patient data and does not provide medical or legal advice.