Understanding and coding MDS 3.0 Item GG0110A: Manual Wheelchair - Prior Use

MDS 3.0 Item GG0110A: Manual Wheelchair - Prior Use

Introduction

Purpose: MDS Item GG0110A assesses whether the resident used a manual wheelchair for mobility before their current illness, injury, or admission to the facility. Understanding a resident’s prior use of a manual wheelchair helps the care team create a personalized care plan that supports their mobility needs. This item provides crucial information for determining rehabilitation goals and identifying the resident’s baseline functional mobility.

What is MDS Item GG0110A?

Explanation: MDS Item GG0110A is part of Section GG: Functional Abilities and Goals, which focuses on a resident's functional mobility, both current and prior. Specifically, GG0110A evaluates whether the resident used a manual wheelchair for mobility before their illness or admission. This item helps the care team understand if the resident relied on a wheelchair as part of their daily routine, guiding the development of rehabilitation or mobility support plans tailored to the resident’s needs.

Guidelines for Conducting and Coding MDS Item GG0110A

Conducting the Assessment: To determine whether a resident used a manual wheelchair prior to their illness or admission, staff should gather information from:

• Interviews with the resident, family members, or caregivers.
• Reviewing medical records or past health assessments.
• Observations from prior care providers about the resident’s mobility methods before admission.

The goal is to establish whether the resident used a manual wheelchair regularly and independently for indoor or outdoor mobility.

Coding Instructions: MDS Item GG0110A uses a binary coding system to indicate whether the resident used a manual wheelchair before their illness or admission. The coding options are:

• 0 - No: The resident did not use a manual wheelchair for mobility prior to the current illness or admission.
• 1 - Yes: The resident regularly used a manual wheelchair for mobility prior to the current illness or admission.

Example Scenario: If a resident regularly used a manual wheelchair for mobility, whether indoors or outdoors, before their illness or injury, you would code GG0110A as 1 - Yes. If the resident did not use a manual wheelchair or used other mobility aids, you would code GG0110A as 0 - No.

Best Practices for Accurate Coding

Thorough Assessment: Gather reliable information from family members, caregivers, or previous medical records to ensure accurate coding. Understanding the resident’s prior wheelchair use helps guide mobility support and rehabilitation efforts.

Documentation: Document the sources used in the assessment process, including interviews, medical records, and prior observations. Clear documentation supports the care plan and helps ensure the accuracy of the resident’s mobility history.

Collaboration with the Care Team: Share the results of the wheelchair use assessment with the interdisciplinary care team. Knowing the resident’s prior use of a manual wheelchair allows the team to develop a care plan that includes appropriate mobility support or rehabilitation goals.

Conclusion

Summary: MDS Item GG0110A is essential for understanding a resident’s prior use of a manual wheelchair. By assessing whether the resident relied on a manual wheelchair for mobility before their illness or admission, care teams can create a care plan that supports the resident’s mobility needs and promotes functional independence.

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 GG-5.

Disclaimer

Please note that the information provided in this guide for MDS 3.0 Item GG0110A: "Manual Wheelchair - Prior Use" 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.