MDSExpert

Hello. My suggestion is to go to an AANAC class, however, you will be overwhelmed after the first day of training. AANAC is having their annual National Convention in Austin, TX May 2nd - 4th. Not sure where you are located, but this would give you some great information even though you may not understand all of what is happening. I am actually teaching a class during the convention on Advanced Beneficiary Notices on May 3rd. It is a wonderful introduction to the MDS world if you have a chance to go.

It is very easy to quote the manual and say, "When the care plan is completed", however, people still question "at what point is the care planning completed"? Typically,the care plan is completed with the CAA's. The ARD might be say...February 2, the date that your facility wants the MDS completed might be February 7...the Care Plan meeting might be February 11. However, if you complete the Care Plan on February 7 when you completed the MDS, then the Care Plan is completed and it can be signed. If you waited until February 8 to complete the Care Plan because you needed to leave for the day and finish the next day, then it is simply signed off for February 8. The Care Plan MUST be completed by day 21 on a new admission. That is really the only rule. So if the resident was admitted on February 2 and you didn't sign V200C2 until Febuary 25, then you are out of compliance. I hope this helps.

Restorative Nursing is just that. It is not mandatory from a Federal Standpoint that an OT or PT start Restorative Nursing. Please understand the following: If your intentions are to cover the resident on Medicare A, then PT/OT would need to give 3 days at 45 minutes and Rest. Nsg. no less than 6 days per week. However, if the resident simply requires maintenance therapy related to dining, then you can start this on your own with Nursing. It is always nice to have the team, and get the recommendations from the therapy team that has been working with the resident, but not mandatory in New York State.