Be a continence champion: use the CHAMMP tool to individualize the plan of care

In June 2005, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued revised guidance to surveyors for Section 483.25(d), Urinary Incontinence, Tag F315. Part 1 instructs that an indwelling catheter not be used without valid medical justification. Part 2 requires that a resident receive treatment to restore continence to the extent possible. Identification, assessment, and diagnosis of incontinence are crucial to preparing an individualized plan of care for treatment. Many articles discuss treatment protocols, but they do not focus on identification and assessment of the incontinent resident. The CHAMMP (Continence, History, Assessment, Medications, Mobility, Plan) Tool provides a comprehensive evaluation tool that incorporates information from the resident and provides the documentation necessary for the MDS (Minimum Data Set) and RAP (Resident Assessment Protocol) assessment process. It is used to establish an individualized plan of care.