what is a pps/mds coordinator?

begalli · Jun 7, 2005

My guess is that it has something to do with records and/or billing. Perhaps a management position.

Bird2 · Jun 7, 2005

just looking at some job postings & came across pps/mds coordinator? was curious what it stands for & what they do? thanks:)

MDS is the minimun data set. PPS is prospective payment system. In LTC every Medicare and Medicaid resident has a MDS completed. It is a very detailed assessment (approx 10 pages). This assessment is sent to the state. The accuaracy of the MDS and the complexity of the resident care determines the amount of pay that a LTC will receive for that Medicare resident and in the future the Medicaid resident. If a resident just came from the hospital with a new CVA and is receiving in the LTC speech, OT, and physical therapy they will pay more money for that residents care than if they are just receiving wound care. This is just a snapshot of the MDS. The MDS coordinators that I know are very detailed, focused, and don't seem to mind working on the computer a lot. A Medicare resident has many MDS's submitted for ex. at 5 days, 14 days 30 days etc. The program is looking for improvements and declines. I am certainly not an expert with MDS, have never done one but sit in the meetings everyday. It is definetly involves the entire IDT.

Lambert5883 · Jun 7, 2005

My wife worked for two years as an MDS coordinator for multiple LTC sites. Her job required that she travel frequently. The job was so consuming (she consistently brought work home and worked late into the night) she finally had to quit, due to a lack of "quality of life." The pay was good, though -- 70K, but corporate expected her to be married to her job, with no concern for her personal demands and responsibilities.

ShortyLPN · Jun 7, 2005

Bird2 is correct, much better than I could've explained it. When I worked LTC, we had a MDS coordinator, although I'm not sure exactly what she did. It was the nurse's responsibility to do the MDS's. They are very lengthy and on top of the 40 people I had to pass meds to, they were a pain in my neck (among other words). We did them quarterly and annually. :)

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Jun 7, 2005

Bird2 is correct, much better than I could've explained it. When I worked LTC, we had a MDS coordinator, although I'm not sure exactly what she did. It was the nurse's responsibility to do the MDS's. They are very lengthy and on top of the 40 people I had to pass meds to, they were a pain in my neck (among other words). We did them quarterly and annually. :)

Thats a good short discription. They are also responsible for care planning and other quarterly assessments that go along with the MDS. Yep there is a lot of paper nursing and computer work, but many times RNACs are doing this on top of other duties, commitees and working the floor.

Ask over at the Long term care forum.

sun_chica · Jun 8, 2005

thanks for all the good info, I just wanted a glimpse as to what the position entailed, let alone what it stood for...thanks again:)