If a patient loses his or her balance while a therapist is performing a therapeutic intervention meant to challenge balance, this would not be considered a fall under M1033 (Risk for hospitalization) response “1 – History of falls” CMS clarifies in response to a question in the October 2023 quarterly OASIS Q&As.
“Falls are not a result of an overwhelming external force (e.g., another person pushes the patient) or an anticipated loss of balance resulting from a supervised therapeutic intervention where the patient’s balance is being intentionally challenged during balance training,” CMS states.
This question was one of four questions included in this shorter batch of Q&As — released Oct. 17. Other questions pertain to GG0170R (Wheel 50 feet with two turns), M1033 (Risk for hospitalization) response “3 – Multiple hospitalizations" and whether or not a transfer OASIS is required when a patient is admitted to a hospital inpatient bed and then it's later changed to an observation stay.
In its response to the question about falls, CMS added that for response “1,” falls are defined as an unintentional change in position coming to rest on the ground, floor or onto the next lower surface (e.g., onto a bed, chair, or bedside mat).
CMS reminds that an intercepted fall would be considered a fall.
“An intercepted fall occurs when the patient would have fallen if they had not caught themself or had not been intercepted by another person,” CMS clarifies in their response.