Data element for CCRS and IRRS

COVID-19 Status at discharge from long-term care and continuing care

October 1, 2020 — In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the inherent risks in the long-term care (LTC) sector, CIHI’s stakeholders have expressed a heightened interest in LTC data and in closing key data gaps. One data gap of interest is a person’s COVID-19 status on discharge from LTC.

In response, CIHI will be implementing a new data element to collect information on a person’s COVID-19 status at time of discharge, effective for discharges as of October 1, 2020. The new data element (COVID-19 Status) will be added to the discharge record (Continuing Care Reporting System, or CCRS) and to the discharge assessment and discharge tracking (Integrated interRAI Reporting System, or IRRS).

For more information, please refer to the additional information at the end of this page.

We’ve provided the specifications to vendors, and many are working toward the implementation date. We suggest you connect with your vendor for an update (or with your provincial/territorial contact, if submissions are managed centrally in your jurisdiction).

Facilities in some jurisdictions may also receive provincial-/territorial-specific directives regarding implementation. Please follow provincial or territorial directives where applicable.

Additional information: COVID-19 Status data element

Element name: COVID-19 Status

Intent: To identify and document a person’s status at time of discharge, based on their last COVID-19 test.

Definitions

Positive Test: Positive COVID-19 test result confirmed by laboratory results, regardless of severity of clinical signs or symptoms.
Negative test — no previous positive test: Negative COVID-19 test result, with no previous positive test result.
Resolved — recovered from condition: Negative COVID-19 test result after having had a confirmed positive COVID-19 test.
OR
Refer to your provincial guidelines for the most recent definition of a resolved case.
No results: Test was performed but results either are not available or are inconclusive. Person may be symptomatic or asymptomatic. Include presumed and suspected cases of COVID-19.
Not tested: No test was performed. Person may be symptomatic or asymptomatic. Include presumed and suspected cases of COVID-19.

Coding: Code for the appropriate response from available documentation.

0 Positive test
1 Negative test — no previous positive test
2 Resolved — recovered from condition
3 No results
4 Not tested

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Have questions or looking for more information? Email us.

specializedcare@cihi.ca