The Resident Assessment Instrument is used primarily in which setting?

• A. Acute care hospitals
• B. Home health
• C. Outpatient clinics
• D. Medicare/Medicaid certified long-term care facilities

Answer: (D)

The main idea is that the Resident Assessment Instrument is a standardized system used to evaluate residents in long‑term care settings to guide individualized care plans and monitor quality for regulatory and reimbursement purposes. It’s specifically tied to Medicare/Medicaid certification and OBRA requirements for long‑term care facilities, making this setting the primary place where the RAI is used. In contrast, acute care hospitals, home health, and outpatient clinics rely on other assessment tools tailored to their needs, so the RAI is not the primary instrument in those settings.