New to MDS

Suggestions for new MDS Coordinators:

The CMS MDS 3.0 Training Materials website has good information regarding MDS 3.0 including training videos on the various MDS sections and the most current MDS 3.0 RAI Manual. You need the July 2011 version of the MDS RAI Manual. The link for the CMS MDS 3.0 Training Materials is: http://www.cms.gov/NursingHomeQualityInits/45_NHQIMDS30TrainingMaterials.asp

The www.QTSO.com website has an MDS 3.0 link that takes you to the MDS 3.0 Provider User's Guide. The Guide explains how to submit your MDS data and pull your reports. Chapter 5 is the most important part of the Guide and explains the various errors and warnings you may get on your MDS validation report and what you can do about them. QTSO is also where you find the form to sign up with a logon to submit MDS data and view CASPER reports.

Contact your State MDS RAI and Technical Coordinators. Their contact information located in Appendix B of the RAI Manual. The state coordinators can tell you about your state's MDS website (if any), your state's email list for receiving alerts related to MDS (if any), and advice they might have for you in addition to the other information supplied here.

I personally recommend the Texas MDS website. It has steps to getting started with MDS, tips, useful documents you won't find anywhere else, etc. The MDS Mentor newsletter is particularly useful, including clinical and technical articles related to MDS. Keep in mind that Texas is a case mix state and some of the material on the website is specific for Texas rules and Medicaid procedure. The website is: www.dads.state.tx.us/providers/MDS/