How should a patient who uses a cane and requires continual assistance due to imbalance be coded for ambulation?

In OASIS-E, the coding for ambulation describes the level of assistance a patient requires during ambulation activities. In this context, the patient uses a cane and needs continual assistance because of imbalance, which indicates a significant need for support.

The codes within OASIS-E are defined as follows:

• A code of 0 indicates that the patient is independent and does not require any assistance.

• A code of 1 signifies that the patient requires assistance but can walk some length independently.

• A code of 2 indicates the patient walks but needs substantial assistance or supervision.

• A code of 3 means that the patient is unable to ambulate safely and requires more than minimal assistance to walk, indicating a high level of dependency.

Given that the patient uses a cane and requires ongoing assistance due to their imbalance, they fall into the category of needing extensive help navigating safely. Therefore, coding this patient as 3 accurately reflects their requirement for constant support in ambulation, aligning with the guidelines of OASIS-E for assessing assistance levels.