Mortality Metric Optimization

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CMS and Care Science (Premier QualityAdvisor) mortality risk models only include diagnoses that are Present On Admission (POA).

Document all diagnoses including possible/probable/likely/suspected diagnoses in your history and physical (H&P) so they are included in the mortality risk calculation.

Diagnoses that greatly increase the risk of mortality in Premier’s model include:

  • Encounter for Palliative Care (Z51.5)

o Are you managing symptoms for your patient with a terminal
illness?

▪ Nausea, vomiting and/or pain control?
▪ Document it!

  • Failure to Thrive
  • Do Not Resuscitate/DNR
  • Sepsis
  • Malnutrition (mild, moderate or severe)

Providers may be queried to clarify if these conditions were POA. A response is important for risk calculation.

Download the complete tip, Mortality Metric Optimization.