Virginia Law

A. Services not specifically documented in the resident's medical record as having been rendered shall be deemed not to have been rendered and no coverage shall be provided.

B. The long-stay acute care hospital shall maintain and retain the business and professional records sufficient to document fully and accurately the nature, scope, and details of the health care provided. Such records shall be retained for a period of not less than five years from the date of service or as provided by applicable state laws, whichever period is longer, except that, if an audit is initiated within the required retention period, the records must be retained until the audit is completed and every exception resolved.

C. The following documentation must be maintained in the resident's medical record:

1. Each record must identify the resident on each page.

2. Entries must be signed and dated (month, day, and year) by the author, followed by professional title. Care rendered by personnel under the supervision of the provider, which is in accordance with Medicaid policy, must be countersigned by the responsible licensed participating provider.

3. The attending physician must certify at the time of admission that the resident requires long-stay acute hospital care and meets the criteria as defined by DMAS.

4. The record must contain a preliminary working diagnosis and the elements of a history and physical examination upon which the diagnosis is based.

5. All services provided, as well as any treatment plan, must be entered in the record. Any drugs prescribed and administered as part of a physician's treatment plan, including the quantities, route of administration, and the dosage must be recorded.

6. The record must indicate the resident's progress, any change in diagnosis or treatment, and the response to the treatment. The documentation must include in detail all treatment rendered to the resident in accordance with the plan with specific attention to frequency, duration, modality, response to treatment, and identify who provided such treatment.

7. Physician progress notes must be written at least weekly and must reflect that the resident has been examined by the physician.

8. A comprehensive nursing assessment must be made by a registered nurse at the time of admission to the facility. Nursing care plans based on an admission assessment must be resident-specific and must indicate realistic nursing needs, measurable goals, and specifically state the method by which the goals are to be accomplished. They must be updated as needed, but at least monthly. Nursing summaries, in addition to the p.r.n. (as needed) notes, are required weekly. Nursing summaries must give a current, written picture of the resident, the resident's nursing needs, the care being provided, and the resident's response to treatment. The nursing summary at a minimum must address the following: medical status; functional status in activities of daily living, elimination, mobility, and emotional/mental status; special nursing procedures; and identification and resolution of acute illnesses or episodes.

9. Social services documentation must include a social evaluation and history and a social services plan of care including a discharge plan. The social work plans of care must be resident-specific and include measurable goals with realistic time frames. Social work plans of care must be updated as needed and at least monthly every 30 days. Social services progress notes must be written at least every 30 days.

10. Activities documentation must be based on a comprehensive assessment completed by the designated activity coordinator. An activity plan of care must be developed for each resident and must include consideration of the individual's interests and skills, the physician's recommendations, social and rehabilitation goals, and personal care requirements. Individual and group activities must be included in the plan. The activity plan of care must be updated as needed but at least every 30 days. Activity progress notes must be written at least every 30 days. Therapeutic leisure activities must be provided daily.

11. Rehabilitative therapy (physical and occupational therapy or speech-language services) or other health care professional (psychologist, respiratory therapist, etc.) documentation must include an assessment completed by the qualified rehabilitation professional. A plan of care developed specific to the resident must be developed and must include measurable goals with realistic time frames. The plan of care must be updated as needed but at least every 30 days. Rehabilitative therapy or other health care professional progress notes must be written at least every 30 days.

12. Each resident's record must contain a dietary evaluation and plan of care completed by a registered dietician. The plan of care must be resident-specific and must have measurable goals within realistic time frames. The plan of care must be updated as needed, but at least every 30 days. The dietary assessment and monthly plans of care must be completed by a registered dietician. Dietary progress notes must be written at least every 30 days.

13. A coordinated interdisciplinary plan of care must be developed for each resident. The plan of care must be resident-specific and must contain measurable goals within realistic time frames. Based on the physician's plan of care, the interdisciplinary team should include, but is not necessarily limited to, nurses, social workers, activities coordinators, dieticians, rehabilitative therapists, direct care staff, and the resident or responsible party. At a minimum, the interdisciplinary team must review and update the interdisciplinary plan of care as needed but at least every 30 days. The interdisciplinary plan of care review must identify those attending the meeting, changes in goals and approaches, and progress made toward meeting established goals and discharge.

14. For residents age 21 and younger, the record must contain documentation that educational or habilitative services are provided as required. The documentation shall include an evaluation of the resident's educational or habilitative needs, a description of the educational or habilitative services provided, a schedule of planned programs, and records of resident attendance. Educational or habilitative progress notes shall be written at least every 30 days.