meghan61

Meghan is the name I wish I had been given along with my birth year. Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays to all. Give the gift of Presence this year! Presents with a C and not a T. Spend some time with others this year instead of physical gifts.

I would take the RAC-3.0 through AANAC. I just finished my tests online last month. I took the course locally and it wasn't the best so if I had to do over again I would take the course online and then test online. Good luck!

The AANAC website has the CAAs in Word or PDF format. It looks like a checklist for the triggers.

If it is what you want to do, apply for it. Keep in mind you will have to learn as you go and you will be required to put out a volume of accurate MDS. We have all been new at one time though. It will require longer hours in the beginning and the discipline to learn on your own but I would do it over again. You will know if it is for you. Good Luck.

I forgot the most important thing...SAVE ALL YOUR EMAILS!!! Since we now communticate via emails, save them, forever. Create folders by department and move them to the folders. You can print them as proof that you had communication with a department.

]Write down everything that you do for each day of the week. ]It sounds crazy but after doing this for many years, I found that writing down my routine for each day helps me streamline the process and also make sure that each component of my work is done. Example: ]1-Print census Qday. ( I cover a rehab unit, the census changes daily) ]2. gather data collection tools - (basically print/gather everything you need for data collection) ]-print mds form for each resident (edit the form in red with your responses.) ]- review pre admission info ]-review financial info ]- print interview sheet ]- print Med a tracker form (ensure that resident scores the RUG that is projected) ]-review ADL reports, nursing notes, review rehab notes and assessments for functional data to code ADLs ]-complete chart review for all other data/MARs/TARs ]-interview resident /family/sig other and staff ]Make sure to check with your billing department to see which V codes you need on the MDS form to reconcile with the UB form (Universal billing form) and any other specific codes ]Keep a computer copy of your MDS schedule. You can update it as needed and then print. ]Keep all the sheets when you write down everything you do. ]You can turn that into your daily job function record and also your job description. ]I also have created many forms over the years and still use most of them to date. Just update as needed. ]Lastly, give yourself a full year to learn the MDS/CAA. ]Use the manual daily. I didn't when the MDS plus started and I regret it. Then, give yourself time to settle into the job. It is an ongoing process; you will learn something every day. Get certified through AANAC and use their online forums. There are many great minds out there, you can learn from everyone. Use the CMS website and of course allnurses.com. Best of luck and remember--"what doesn't kill you makes you stronger". TJD -email me if you want any forms.

I work in a New York facility and have been completing MDS since the inception. It is a 300 bed RHCF.The woman that does the actual submission is a secretary who was trained by the former Medical Records person. I have had problems with her changing my data. She has administrative privileges and I do not. When I do the next assessment, I am finding that some data was changed. I notified our department head but nothing has been done. When I confront her she denies it or doesn't answer me or says it must have been someone else. She refuses to attend any MDS seminars. Any suggestions? I am very concerned because we are going to get nailed on RAC audits. She changes rehab minutes, adds IV meds, Oxygen, chemo, without the profesionals knowledge or having them re-sign.

We are using a "Med A tracker form" and meeting twice per week to flex our ARDs. I don't know who created the Med a tracker form, though. I cannot attach it here , it is an .XLS file. Send me your email, and I will get it to you.

To VeryberryRN- in 1986 NYS was still using RUGs II, or PRIs. I have been licensed in NY since 1982 and have worked in SNFs all my career. I started UR in 1988, we trialed the MDS in the fall of 1989 and it became "official" in 1990. Demo project was in 1996. And so it continues!! :)

Thank you so much! You're the best.

I use an online website. Just search for ICD-9 codes and several sites will pop up.

We are in Upstate NY and just brought our Medicaid rate up to 0.92 from 0.86. I found that we were missing a significant number of Dr visits/order changes, so we corrected that during our last assessment period. I also found that some hemiparesis/plegia's had been omitted and some nurses are coding the hemi's as ICD-9 codes on I.3. instead of I.1. Some of our nurses excluded Oxygen because it was not used daily, (the old PRI criteria). We started having CMI meetings to educate the nurses.

Does anyone know when NY will be required to convert to an electroni medical record?

We have used Caretracker for the last 7 years. It is a great tool but we still have issues with incorrect coding levels especially for ADL's. As far as the reports that can be generated it is wonderful. But there is alway an error variance with ADL coding and the CNA's need ongoing education.

I just attended a seminar and asked the AANAC MDS 3.0 Nurse guru how she would recommend meeting the criteria for capturing nebulizer treatments on the MDS. To meet the "trained nurse component" she recommended having return demonstrations in each nurses file. For documentation, she stated to use the TAR or MAR and list the actual minutes spent with the patient. So, I am hoping Talino will help me here!!! Who trains the nurse? A respiratory therapist? A credentialed RN? How does the state nurse practice act apply? Thanks so much! Terrie