interRAI assessment types and timelines

The different assessment types and how they are used together reflect a person’s encounter(s) as they transition in to and out of a facility or site. Here are the different assessment types supported in the Integrated interRAI Reporting System (IRRS).

• First assessment: To be completed at time of entry/admission. 
• Routine reassessment: A regularly scheduled follow-up assessment. 
• Return assessment: A full assessment that can be completed after a short, planned absence, either upon the person’s return or when due for the next scheduled assessment.
• Significant change in status reassessment: To be completed when a major change impacts the person’s health status and requires interdisciplinary review and/or revision of the care plan.
• Discharge assessment: A full assessment that is completed at the point of discharge. This assessment type may not be required by most jurisdictions where a discharge tracking only will suffice. Submission of a discharge assessment will close the person’s encounter.
• Discharge tracking only: Minimal administrative information that is completed at the point of discharge. This assessment type can be submitted to IRRS if the person dies before the first (admission) assessment is completed. Submission of a discharge tracking only will close the person’s encounter. 
• Other: Any assessment conducted for reasons such as quality assurance or clinical research. These assessments are not submitted to IRRS.

• The first assessment for the interRAI Home Care (HC) (Reason for Assessment A8/iA8 = 1) is done at the time of entry into the home care system. This assessment should be completed within 7 days of the person having been deemed eligible for long-term home care (i.e., long-term supportive or maintenance client groups).
• The first assessment for the interRAI Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCF) (Reason for Assessment A8/iA8 = 1) is required by day 4 of the person’s stay. Jurisdictions may wish to set their own parameters for completion, but time to complete the assessment should not exceed 7 days. 
  • Note: This timeline is different from the timeline for Resident Assessment Instrument–Minimum Data Set 2.0 (RAI-MDS 2.0) assessments, where the admission assessment is required by day 14 of the person’s stay.
• There’s no need to submit a discharge assessment or tracking for residents or clients in the Continuing Care Reporting System (CCRS) or Home Care Reporting System (HCRS) in order for them to be transitioned to the interRAI LTCF or interRAI HC in IRRS.