Please pass this information along to the social worker/social services individual, as well as the MDS Coordinator, as they are frequently the individuals who are completing Section Q:
DHSS is finding that many homes do not understand the Section Q referral process when a resident has an active discharge plan in place. If the resident has a plan to return home (as in short stay rehab) then you code a 1 “yes” in item #Q0400. When you code 1 “yes”, the MDS has a skip pattern that skips asking the resident the question in #Q0500 and leads the assessor to #Q0600 Referral question. The expectation is that you do not need to refer a person who has an active discharge plan in place, so you would code 0 “No-referral not needed” in #Q0600. Residents with active discharge plans already have plans/resources in place. They do not need options counseling to help obtain more information. Section Q is intended to capture those long stay residents, who no one has ever thought about discharging before.
If you have questions, please contact: Joan Brundick, State RAI Coordinator, Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services (DHSS), Telephone 573-751-6308 or E-mail: joan.brundick@health.mo.gov