The mouth is a real factor in a skilled course. After oral or maxillofacial surgery, a resident needs skilled oral care and complication surveillance. Chemotherapy- or radiation-induced mucositis is painful, limits intake, and is an infection portal requiring skilled management. For the dependent, NPO, or tube-fed resident, skilled oral care is a recognized measure to reduce aspiration pneumonia. And oral infection (thrush, abscess) or bleeding affects nutrition, comfort, and systemic risk. The skilled work is the oral assessment tied to nutrition and infection and the specialized oral care.
This module proves, on the days it applies, that skilled oral care or observation was reasonable, necessary, and part of the daily skilled need under Pub. 100-02 Chapter 8. The oral exam is the same as in home care; the coverage spine is re-pointed. Intake and dysphagia route to Nutrition; aspiration to Respiratory.
