MDS Coordinator Information Latest Topics

Section C on the MDS

Thu, 07 May 2026 11:05:39 +0000

Recently our social worker conducted a BIMS and said the patient completely refused. He is oriented and can participate just did not want to. So she answers the first 4 questions with zero and the recall questions dashed them and entered 99 in the BIMS score. The RAI manual says that a refusal is considered a zero and then enter a 99 in the BIMS score and proceed to staff interview. The question is should she even be coding the first four questions 0 and then dashing the recall? I was told by our regional MDS that this would be coded 0 all the way through the BIMS score and then 99. Thanks appreciate your help and time.

MDS Coordinator Certification

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 15:02:49 +0000

Hello

I have been a LPN for 15 years and would like to get a job as a MDS coordinator; especially now that Pa in compact state; Does anyone know where I can get online only certified? The only one I found was over $1000. Any information would be greatly a[appreciated

MDS question NY

Sun, 20 Apr 2025 20:53:30 +0000

If you have a resident who was admitted and then discharged 4 days later, before the Admission assessment was done, do you have to complete an admission assessment after the discharge? Thank you

Mds nurses have to do clinical assessment

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 20:56:41 +0000

Location - Massachusetts: SNF changed ownership, new owners want MDS nurses, not charge nurses to fill out respiratory assessment in order to claim SOB. Thoughts about this practice?

RN BSN

Sun, 13 Apr 2025 15:02:03 +0000

How do I get signed up with learning MDS?

DCRA assessment needed?

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 12:03:33 +0000

I have a resident who went out to the hospital, she was out less than 24 hours but was admitted, do I do a DCRA assessment for this?

new to MDS world

Sat, 15 Jun 2024 23:59:44 +0000

im in the process of getting hired for an MDS job, waiting on offer letter at this point. I've been a nurse for decades, LOL, but not in the MDS area. any guidance on note taking etc, during our morning meetings/other meetings? I know I need to take down dx, admit date, skilled tx's, etc. I want to make sure I don't miss something important because I think it isn't important

SURGICAL SITES

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 14:19:26 +0000

I HAVE A COUPLE OF RESIDENTS THAT HAD CRYO SURGERY DONE TO REMOVE CANCER LESIONS. CAN I CLAIM THAT AS A SURGICAL SITE ON THE MDS?

MDS Coordinator

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 00:48:01 +0000

I am in the process of getting my RAC-CT, but I can not seem to grasp the reasoning for doing a Significant Correction to Prior Assessment versus just doing a Modification of an Assessment to correct an error. Could someone shed some light on this for me?\

Thanks

MDS Nurse Department Head

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 00:00:16 +0000

Hello all,

I have been doing MDS for nearly a year now. Can anyone tell me if they have been an MDS nurse but not a department head and then an MDS nurse who is a department head what the difference was? Did you feel you were treated better and respected more as an official department head, or was there no difference?

Isolation

Sun, 18 Jun 2023 22:13:13 +0000

Hello MDS team,

Would you code Isolation for Rhinovirus under section O, Isolate/quarantine?

Thank you

Skilled Wound Care

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 16:34:47 +0000

What makes a wound skillable under Medicare A guidelines?

MDS FIRE.

Tue, 16 May 2023 12:52:43 +0000

*quick history: home for the holidays from travel nursing, picked up PRN RN shifts at hometown NH, 28 residents, I've worked here some part of every year for 23yrs.

the owner/admin for my facility has suffered a severe stroke, and the acting DON has never worked in LTC (she's been here "untrained" since OCT. '22). The DON usually does MDS here also.

I have been a DON for years in LARGE facilities, & I usually have several MDS coordinators. I'm not even going to try to lie & say I have ANY IDEA what I'm doing, but the MDS were given to ME! after we did a records review for 1st quarter. The MDS haven't been done since OCT '22. The last batch exported says "review required. submit by 12/2/2022". There are 5 residents who have discharged or passed away since January and they're still in as current. MY "SCHEDULED" PAGE LOOKS LIKE IT'S ON FIRE, its so RED. What do I do with all these missed ARD, deaths, discharges, sig.changes that should've been done?? some are almost 3 assessments deep now. AND what needs to be done with the "review required"?? this is a private owned place. I LITERALLY HAVE NOBODY. any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated... and prayers...sage??...box of matches and a good alibi?? (jkjkjk).

Thanks Yal.

fall r/t medical event

Fri, 21 Apr 2023 12:25:30 +0000

A resident had a seizure, fell, lost consciousness and received a laceration to his scalp.

How would you code this in section J? His fall was related to a medical event - not a trip or loss of balance. Also, a major injury is described as a "closed head injury with alteration in consciousness". His head CT scan at the hospital was negative.

All feedback appreciated!

Morning Meeting/Stand up

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 03:07:28 +0000

I was just wondering what other facilities do. How long are your morning meetings, what is discussed and what extra work do you get done there? (like fall reviews, skin tears/breakdown, change in condition with Interdisciplinary Team reviews etc.) Also, who attends your delivery of care or whatever it's called where you work? It's the mtg within 72hrs to determine prior level of function, resident and family discharge plans.

I find myself going in at 7am just to get some work done before our mtg that lasts from 9am usually to 11:00. Then I'm given careplans to "update", consents for psychotropics to obtain and other little assignments. I feel disorganized at this facility and mtgs drag.

Section C & D - Interviewable or not?

Wed, 22 Mar 2023 18:53:09 +0000

My new SW has been attempting to do section C with almost every resident. She codes "yes" the interview should be conducted unless of course the resident is non verbal or 100% confused and unable to respond to even the most basic care need questions. . But sometimes we find during section C interview that the resident cannot respond to that level of conversation, so she codes " refused to answer or non sensical answer" and moves on to the staff interview. Then she codes section D as "no" interview should not be conducted. Is that acceptable - yes to section C but no to section D? She feels that if the resident cannot repeat three words , he certainly won't be able to respond to the more involved questions in section D. Just looking for the opinions of others.

Missed an end of PPS MDS

Wed, 21 Dec 2022 14:43:21 +0000

I just realized a resident came off of Med A (remained in facility) on 11/10/22 and I never completed the end of PPS stay MDS. Should I do it now and will there be any financial ramifications?

Thanks!

Medicare days calculator

Sat, 23 Apr 2022 02:28:13 +0000

Hi everyone. I used to have this Excel spreadsheet where I can input a Medicare start date and it will calculate the 100th day as well as all the days in between. Tried Googling it but found nothing. Anyone know where I can get it? I know it's just a bunch of formulas but that will take time to DIY. TIA.

RACCT

Sat, 12 Nov 2022 19:22:06 +0000

Hi everyone! I’m new here. I am looking for some advice/help with the RAC-CT? I’ve been an MDS coordinator for 4 years, BUT for the Federal Government… so we do NOT use PDPM nor Medicare, but these 2 parts are on the RAC-CT exam and I’ve failed each once already as even with studying, it is so confusing as we do the opposite in the VA for billing!

any advice, help, tips or resources?

I've read the pdf content for the exam, but still failed!

A2400C for early planned discharge

Mon, 07 Nov 2022 19:50:19 +0000

Hello,

Coding question:

For Medicare Part A covered patients who elect to leave prior the end of their skilled services (such as Restorative PT/OT) and NOMNC was not issued since patient would still have been covered, what date do you put for A2400C, end date of most recent Medicare stay?

Should it be ongoing?

Section GG Beyond Frustrated

Wed, 02 Nov 2022 16:37:57 +0000

So Nov. 1st we were told we had to start completing Section GG on the MDS and next October is when Section G will be going away. I am in a private pay facility. We do not bill Medicare. Therapy is contracted out and they bill Medicare for their part. But state has said we have to complete it any way for date collection. We are a Dementia care facility. We mostly admit residents that are not discharging unless they go to the hospital and hopefully return. This thing wants admission info. ( they have been here 2 years) and a primary medicare diagnosis that it won't accept. So frustrating just for information collection.

MDS Cheat Sheet

Sun, 05 Feb 2017 13:18:22 +0000

Is there a MDS Cheat Sheet for Assessment & Interview? I am working as Coordinator for last 6 months. I was trained by the previous MDS coordinator, learning on the job & now finally reading through the RAI manual. Thanks!

MDS Coordinator

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 20:35:30 +0000

I have a resident admitted NSTEMI s/p PCI ostial LAD. Which do I code as the primary the NSTEMI or the cardiac cath (angioplasty) of LAD?

Totally Dependent For Positioning

Thu, 07 Jul 2022 19:08:10 +0000

If a resident can hold onto the 1/4 siderail while being positioned or while being given incontinent care - should we be coding that resident as totally dependent for positioning or as assist since they are holding onto the rail to keep themselves held over during care (they are not using the rail to move themselves in bed at all - just to keep from falling back while care is provided)? Thanks!

What MDS training is best?

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 08:39:44 +0000

Hi I just have a question about getting certified as an MDS nurse. What is the best and most respected online training? I see several programs out there, has anyone had any experience with them?