Susan.B

I work in hospice and do a lot of education on regulatory and operational issues. I am preparing a presentation on the MDS 3.0 for hospice staff members. Content will include MDS background and history, multiple functions of the MDS, the key (and, from my perspective, very challenging) role of the MDS nurse and the primary changes from 2.0 to 3.0. Reading your comments on 3.0 has been very helpful - and I feel your pain. I hope it gets smoother and some changes will be made. I would appreciate your input on the following questions (and if you have comments beyond the questions I would love to hear that as well). I find that workshop participants are always very interested in ways that they can do better in their partnerships with long term care folks, especially those that have never worked in the LTC setting. 1. If there information that the hospice team can provide to assist in the MDS process? 2. What is it and in what form would you like to receive it? 3. In what other ways can the hospice team can helpful? Hospice doesn't yet have anything that equates to the MDS or OASIS. However, our new Conditions of Participation (implemented in 2008) are written to support a comprehensive assessment process - so our day is clearly coming. I am hoping that I will have retired before then!