Understanding and coding MDS 3.0 Item F0800C: Staff Assessment - Receiving a Tub Bath

MDS 3.0 Item F0800C: Staff Assessment - Receiving a Tub Bath

Introduction

Purpose: Personal hygiene is a fundamental part of daily care in long-term care settings, and many residents have specific preferences regarding how they bathe. MDS Item F0800C assesses whether staff conducted an assessment to determine the resident’s preferences for receiving a tub bath when the resident is unable to communicate their preferences. Understanding these preferences ensures that the resident’s hygiene needs are met in a way that aligns with their comfort and dignity.

What is MDS Item F0800C?

Explanation: MDS Item F0800C is part of Section F: Preferences for Customary Routine and Activities. This item evaluates whether the staff conducted an assessment to determine the resident’s preference for receiving a tub bath when the resident cannot express this preference themselves. For many residents, bathing preferences are deeply personal, and ensuring that staff understand these preferences contributes to providing person-centered care.

Guidelines for Conducting and Coding MDS Item F0800C

Conducting the Staff Assessment: If a resident is unable to communicate their preferences for bathing due to cognitive or physical impairments, the staff must assess the resident’s preferences through observations, family input, and past records. Key questions include:

• Did the resident previously express a preference for tub baths over showers or sponge baths?
• Does the resident show signs of comfort or discomfort when given a tub bath?
• Have family members or caregivers indicated a known preference for tub baths?

The goal is to gather as much information as possible to provide a comfortable and personalized bathing experience for the resident.

Coding Instructions: The coding for MDS Item F0800C depends on whether the staff conducted an assessment to determine the resident’s preferences for receiving a tub bath. The coding options are:

• 0 - No: No staff assessment was conducted to determine the resident’s preferences for receiving a tub bath.
• 1 - Yes: A staff assessment was conducted to determine the resident’s preferences for receiving a tub bath.

Example Scenario: If the resident cannot communicate their bathing preferences and staff assess that the resident enjoys tub baths based on past behavior and family input, you would code F0800C as 1 - Yes. If no assessment was made to determine the resident’s bathing preferences, you would code F0800C as 0 - No.

Best Practices for Accurate Coding

Thorough Assessment: When conducting the staff assessment, ensure that observations, previous behavior, and family input are taken into account to understand the resident’s bathing preferences. If the resident has a history of preferring tub baths, this should be documented and respected.

Documentation: Record the sources used to determine the resident’s bathing preferences, such as family interviews or past resident care records. Clear documentation helps ensure that the resident’s preferences are consistently respected over time.

Communication: Share the results of the staff assessment with the care team to ensure that the resident’s bathing preferences are respected in their daily routine. This helps maintain the resident’s comfort and dignity during personal hygiene care.

Training: Provide staff with training on the importance of understanding and respecting residents’ bathing preferences. Staff should be attentive to signs of discomfort or preference when bathing residents and adjust the care plan as needed.

Conclusion

Summary: MDS Item F0800C is essential for ensuring that residents who cannot communicate their preferences for bathing have their needs respected. Conducting this staff assessment and accurately coding the item helps provide personalized care that maintains the resident’s dignity and comfort during bathing routines.

Click 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 F0800C: "Staff Assessment - Receiving a Tub Bath" 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.