Staffing Crisis Causing You to Utilize Your MDS Nurses as Floor Nurses?
By Robin Stern, RN & WI Regional Director, National Director of MDS
Many do not understand the MDS nurse contribution to the LTC building and see them as an extra nurse who is just sitting at their desk. This can’t be farther from the truth. The MDS nurse is an irreplaceable part of the team. Many nurses have left bedside nursing to go into MDS and may no longer be able to jump on a cart. MDS requires extensive knowledge about Medicare, Medicaid, and managed care. Not understanding these rules can cause the facility to return revenue if the MDS is not supported by required documentation.
The MDS nurse is primarily responsible to gather the resident’s information via the RAI process, which assesses a resident’s behavioral, psychological, clinical, nutritional, and physical strengths and needs to create an individualized care plan that considers the resident holistically. The MDS nurse, then works with nursing, therapy, registered dietician, social services, psych services, and NP/MD, to ensure that all components are compliant with Medicare requirements.
MDS is also the key driver for Medicare payment and many Medicaid reimbursement systems and is especially critical for long-term care providers. Reimbursement is determined by MDS assessments. Small adjustments in the can result in a significant increase (or decrease) in revenue for which the facility is entitled. MDS Coordinators are responsible for ensuring documentation, ARD dates, all required components that are submitted on the MDS are accurate. These levels ensure the facility is getting accurate, and maximum, reimbursement.
“I think that taking any time away from MDS risks being less thorough. Potentially losing money and coding inaccurate information. You need time to dig for information, talk with staff and residents, transmit, check quality measures, and indicators, ect. MDS is a full-time job that requires full time attention.” Jenny Leach RN RAC-CT.
Staffing challenges may be very real especially for rural sites, however your MDS coordinator is more than just a nurse and at times solely responsible for your site’s revenue. They are constantly assessing each resident for significant changes and keeping your team on task, updating care plans, driving for improvement in your quality measures and meeting regulatory requirements. This nurse is your rock!