NCCAP Documentation & Regulatory Compliance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under CMS F-tag F679, activity programs must be directed by a qualified professional. Which credential satisfies this requirement?
- RN licensed in the state
- ADC or CTRS with experience in long-term care (Correct answer)
- Social worker with MSW degree
- Occupational therapist with COTA credential
Correct answer: ADC or CTRS with experience in long-term care
CMS requires the activity director to be a qualified therapeutic recreation specialist or an activities professional certified by a recognized body such as NCCAP or NCTRC.
Question 2: A resident's care plan documents a goal to 'attend group music therapy twice weekly.' After two months the resident has not attended once. What is the FIRST action the activity professional should take?
- Remove the goal from the care plan immediately
- Document the non-attendance and assess barriers in a progress note (Correct answer)
- Notify the state ombudsman of non-compliance
- Transfer the resident to a different care unit
Correct answer: Document the non-attendance and assess barriers in a progress note
The professional must document attendance patterns and assess barriers before modifying the care plan goal.
Question 3: Which federal regulation specifically addresses the right of nursing home residents to participate in activities of their choice?
- HIPAA Privacy Rule
- OBRA 1987 Resident Rights provisions (Correct answer)
- ADA Title III
- Occupational Safety and Health Act
Correct answer: OBRA 1987 Resident Rights provisions
OBRA 1987 (42 CFR Part 483) codified resident rights including the right to choose activities aligned with their interests and abilities.
Question 4: A state surveyor asks to see documentation proving a resident was offered an individualized activity within the past 30 days. Which record BEST satisfies this request?
- The facility's group activity calendar
- A signed attendance roster from a group program
- An individualized progress note documenting the one-on-one visit (Correct answer)
- The resident's admission assessment form
Correct answer: An individualized progress note documenting the one-on-one visit
An individualized progress note specifically documenting a one-on-one activity interaction is the strongest evidence of individualized programming.
Question 5: When documenting a resident's response to an activity using a SOAP format, what does the 'O' stand for?
- Outcome
- Objective
- Observation (Correct answer)
- Organization
Correct answer: Observation
In SOAP notes, 'O' stands for Objective — measurable, observable data collected by the clinician during the interaction.
Question 6: A facility uses a MDS 3.0 Section F to capture activity pursuit patterns. How often must the MDS be completed for a long-stay resident?
- Every 30 days
- Every 60 days
- Every 90 days (Correct answer)
- Annually only
Correct answer: Every 90 days
For long-stay residents, a quarterly MDS assessment (every 92 days) is required, though significant change assessments may be triggered sooner.
Question 7: An activity professional notices a colleague altered a resident's progress note to remove mention of a fall that occurred during a program. What is the appropriate response?
- Accept the change since falls are handled by nursing
- Report the falsification to the supervisor and follow facility policy (Correct answer)
- Re-enter the fall information in a new note without notifying anyone
- Destroy both versions of the note to avoid confusion
Correct answer: Report the falsification to the supervisor and follow facility policy
Falsifying medical records is illegal and unethical; the professional must report the incident through proper channels immediately.
NCCAP Documentation & Regulatory Compliance 2
Under CMS F-tag F679, activity programs must be directed by a qualified professional.
Which credential satisfies this requirement?