Malnutrition develops when the body lacks the needed vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to maintain healthy tissues and organ functions. As Risk Adjustment coders, we always look at the BMI to think about Malnutrition.
But what other clinical indicators can drive us to query the healthcare provider about the presence of this condition?
Please share with us your points of view.
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Hospitalized patients are often at risk for malnutrition since they often have an inability to eat. A prolonged N.P.O. status(nothing by mouth) for testing, procedure or medical needs will interfere with a patient nutritional status
Patients receiving additional nutritional support such as TPN (total parenteral nutrition), Tube feeding or supplement should be reviewed for additional clinical indicators to support a query for malnutrition if the diagnosis is not mentioned.
Here the most common clinical indicators seen in the hospital report:
· Nutritional consult
· Calorie counts
· Daily weight
· Enteral Feeding
· TPN
· Prolonged NPO status
· BMI
· Nutritional supplement
· Vitamin and Mineral supplement