RE: Section K

[Brenda Chance]

Your director needs to talk with a speech therapist.  Mechanically altered diets include Mech Soft, Pureed, etc. and can be as much for swallowing problems as for chewing.  I would not code chewing unless there was a chewing problem.  This would be like assuming just because a resident has difficulty lying flat they have copd.    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: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, February 20, 2004 10:32 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: Section K   The director believes chewing is the only reason and assistant director agrees with Holly  - chewing, swallowing, or personal preference. The assistant director completes the MDS but is getting pressure from the director (her boss) to code it the way he wants it done…I need to step in and wanted input to make sure I am right. thanks   -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of carol maher Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2004 8:25 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Section K   Can your dietary management give examples of when a mechanically altered diet would be ordered for a reason other than a chewing problem? ----- Original Message ----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2004 5:25 PM Subject: Section K   I have been asked to pose a question here by our dietary management….   Section K 1   - if a resident is on a mechanically altered diet should 1a chewing problem always be checked – ( I do understand if a chewing problem was present and now is managed we need to check it.) Any comments would be appreciated. thanks