Took a position as MDS Coordinator

Ruas61, BSN, RN · May 8, 2014

You gather information, input it into the form and the Algorithm/crosswalks yield a variety of information.

Things like your facilities' quality indicators, reimbursement rates, staffing numbers and health department survey are based either entirely or in large part on what goes into the MDS.

The MDS itself is a snapshot in time of a resident. It is a starting place to assess their needs and formulate a plan of care.

It all sounds easy peasy until you start doing it and learn the nuances, the difference in interpretation and realize the immense impact it has on every aspect of a facilities existence beyond the resident themselves.

You are like a detective, a writer, a planner and an evaluator.

You have to be accurate, ethical, moral and follow the laws when doing the MDS.

You can't fudge or make up stuff nor let yourself get cornered into doing anything that is not truthful.

A lot of folks think it is a cakewalk, it's not.

Your collateral duties are facility specific.

rnwings · May 13, 2014

Dear Raus61, Thank you for your response. I began my training last Wednesday. So far I understand your "gathering " of information. Putting it into the computer is another issue. They are telling me "I'm reading into the questions to much and making it more difficult for myself. I guess the biggest part for me right now is, understanding the questions they are asking, and giving the right information. I have done a few quarterlies and nobody seems to check my work. Just hope like heck I'm doing things right. Thank you again, just wanted someone to talk to :)