To print or not to print, that is the ?

[rukiddingme]

I have only been working with MDS' for 2 years, and both facilities I've worked in have always printed out the MDS' (after putting in everyone's information they've given us) then pass them around for the other departments to sign, then file into binders. We are the only 2 that input data for the MDS. My MDS Supervisor said she's always done it this way -but she likes the idea of paperless, but knows nothing about it either.

We currently use MDScare by LTC solutions. I just wondered how do you go 'paperless' and what would be the pro's & con's of it? Thanks alot for any input anyone has. Tara

[Bella'sMyBaby]

My facility keeps copies of the MDS Assessments on the charts.

Easier to keep on charts when "State" is in the building.

Now when 3.0 happens....

Assessments will be too thick to keep on charts!

[rukiddingme]

Our resident charts aren't very big, so no way we could keep that many months of MDS' in them.

As someone mentioned in another thread, I'm hoping the companies that make the 3.0 programs will reduce the text and size of the paperwork so it's at least half of what it is when you download it from CMS.

But I am still interested in paperless....if I got enough input, and it sounded reasonable, maybe my Supervisor could propose it to corporate.

[rukiddingme]

....darn it. Was hoping that someone had some information to share.

Will keep my fingers crossed that 'some day' I'll get help on it.

[Bella'sMyBaby]

I don't think most Facilities/Companies know yet how they are going to handle the MDS 3.0 Assessments. Personally, I want there to be hard copies of all the MDS Assessments & Validating Documentation kept somewhere @ the Nurses Station so that I don't have to waste time pulling off every Assessment that Surveyors want to see......And what happens when the Computer System goes down?

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

We don't print them out. They're in the system which is backed up off-site.

[Bella'sMyBaby]

We don't print them out. They're in the system which is backed up off-site.

Where do you keep your Supporting Documentation?

Our Computers have been "going down" quite frequently lately.

:nurse:

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Where do you keep your Supporting Documentation?

Our Computers have been "going down" quite frequently lately.

:nurse:

Care plans, physician's orders, etc?

The system.

:)

[Bella'sMyBaby]

Care plans, physician's orders, etc?

The system.

:)

We keep our Supporting Documentation (documentation that supports the RUG, such as IV Meds, Therapy days & Minutes, etc.) stapled to the MDS Assessment, that way it's all there when the Surveyors/MDS Auditors look at the MDS. :)

[rukiddingme]

Going paperless would be great, but how does everyone 'sign off' on the assessment? I guess that's what I'm confused about. @ my facility, there is only 4 signatures on our MDS', so it's not many.

I know for a fact nobody else looks @ our MDS' (or careplans) except for survey people, and a couple Nurse Practitioners that come in. To me, it's a big waste of paper.

We just had our survey @ beginning of the month. Not sure they looked @ many of our PPS residents.

Our supporting documentation is kept in a seperate filing system in our MDS office. They are filed by ARD and kept the required 18 months. Everything in that file is copies of the original document (which is in the chart until medical records does chart thinning)

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Our system has an e-signature spot.

[rukiddingme]

I understand what that is, but how does it work? How does one get an e-signature? (I have no idea if our program has such a thing or not)