RE: incontinence

[Brenda Chance]

I think your consultants are way out there.  the manual has the answer for you.  On page 3-120, it states “if the resident’s skin gets wet with urine, or if whatever is next to the skin ( i.e., pad,brief, underwear) gets wet, it should be counted as an episode of incontinence.”  Even if the brief is holding the urine away from the skin, the brief is getting wet so the resident is incontinent.    Brenda W. Chance, RN, RAC-C MDS Coordinator     CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. -----Original Message----- From: Tendercare [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2003 10:47 AM To: cmdg Subject: incontinence        I have a question for the group. Our company is providing a new pants (diaper) that is super absorbent and wicks wetness away from the skin. Can't remember the name but we used these before and they are fantastic.      The thing is, our consultants are saying that our incontinent people will now be coded as continent because incontinence refers to the amount of wetness on the skin. In the manual there is conflicting info. Page 3-119 under definition says Refers to control of urinary bladder function . Then at the bottom of the page it says Determination of whether or not to code incontinence is not a matter of volume. It is a matter of skin wetness and irritation.. Bottom of page 3-120 says For example, using the urinary incontinence scale, if the resident is always dry, code "0". The resident is always dry with these new pants. Under #4 on page 3-121 Incontinent-Has inadequate control.  Sooooo. I need your help. How would you code with these new diapers? Yes the residents will still be checked and changed as needed with these items, and peri care done. We have a high amount of incontinence due to the number of residents with dementia that we have. Coding continent with these pads I am going to go from lots to none. What do you think? Thanks for your help.   Unit Managers