CHAPTER 11 | Apply Standards of Nutrition Care & Review Effectiveness of the Nutrition Care Plan Ongoing Documentation
The timing of ongoing documentation using the RAI will depend on the type of facility and its policies and procedures. Some clients require monthly nutrition documentation using a free-text note, such as clients being followed by the nutrition risk committee because of significant weight loss or pressure injuries. However, per the MDS calendar, all clients will receive a shorter quarterly reassessment and an annual comprehensive reassessment. The quarterly reassessment occurs either 90 days from the admission date (includes weekend days) or 90 days from the significant change re-assessment. Significant changes are discussed further below. The annual nutritional reassessment and CAA for each client on the MDS calendar must be completed within 366 days from the client’s initial comprehensive nutritional assessment or their last comprehensive annual assessment, whichever was most recent. Recall that the MDS Coordinator maintains the calendar typically daily and distributes it to team members. The CDM, CFPP should ensure they receive a copy of this calendar and pass it along to the RDN/NDTR.
Figure 11.3 illustrates the timeline for ongoing documentation using the RAI.
Figure 11.3 Timeline for Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) 12 Months: Annual Assessment (these continue as long as client is a resident)
If there is a significant change in condition for the client anytime after admission, a full assessment—including CAA and care planning—must be conducted. This is true for both a decline and an improvement. Source: CMS, 2023
Nutrition Fundamentals and Medical Nutrition Therapy