What distinguishes a comprehensive assessment from a periodic review in LTCF?

• A. Comprehensive includes full data at discharge
• B. Periodic reviews replace the initial comprehensive assessment
• C. Comprehensive is conducted after admission only to verify data
• D. Comprehensive includes full data at admission; periodic reviews update changes and adjust care plans

Answer: (D)

In LTCF practice, you establish a full baseline right at admission with a comprehensive assessment, covering health status, functional abilities, preferences, and environmental needs. After that, periodic reviews are done regularly or after significant changes to refresh the information and fine-tune the care plan. So the defining distinction is that the comprehensive assessment provides the full data at admission, while periodic reviews focus on updating changes and adjusting the care plan accordingly. The other statements aren’t accurate because discharge data belong to transition planning rather than the initial baseline, periodic reviews do not replace the initial assessment, and the comprehensive assessment is not only about verifying data after admission but about building a full baseline.