Minimum Data Set (MDS) Coordinator

Job Summary:
The primary purpose of the MDS Coordinator is to conduct and coordinate the development and
completion of the resident assessment in accordance with the requirements of the Federal and
state regulations as well as Company policy and procedures.

Supervisory Responsibilities: N/A

Duties/Responsibilities:

Customer Service
Demonstrates positive customer service when performing the role of the MDS Coordinator, with residents,
family members, facility staff and medical staff.
Displays flexibility, team spirit, compassion, respect, honesty, politeness and accountability when dealing
with residents, family members and facility staff.
Demonstrates an awareness of and sensitivity for resident's rights in all interfaces with residents and family
members.
Communicates effectively via open, straightforward communication, including use of listening skills and by
accessing the appropriate chain of command.
Seeks validation of knowledge base, decision-making and skill level by actively questioning when
necessary.
Participates in interdisciplinary communication activities; actively listens and actively contributes.
Will perform general nursing duties in cases of emergency or staffing shortages.
May be required to take "on call" rotation and fill vacancies as needed.
May be required to serve as the Director of Nursing on an interim basis as required by the Administrator.

Administrative Functions:
Conduct and coordinate the development and completion of the resident assessment (MDS) in
accordance with current rules, regulations, and guidelines that govern the resident assessment.
Maintain and periodically update written policies and procedures that govern the development use,
and implementation of the resident assessment (MDS) and care plan.
Oversee and coordinate the development and completion of the resident assessment (MDS) in
accordance with current Federal and state rules, regulations, and guidelines that govern the resident
assessment, including the implementation of RAPs and Triggers.
Disseminate any new or updated materials involving the RAI process.
Facilitate the involvement of appropriate health professionals needed to improve or maintain the
residents' functional abilities at the highest practicable level.
Ensure the face validity of all Minimum Data Sets before electronic submission.
Participate in and oversee the timely electronic submission of all MOS.
Review the validation report and ensure that appropriate action is taken.
Perform administrative duties such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluations, studies, etc., as
necessary.
Develop, implement, and maintain an ongoing quality assurance program for the resident
assessment/care plans.
Assist the resident and Discharge Planning Coordinator in completing the care plan portion of the
resident's discharge plan.
Participate in facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies.

Committee Functions:
Act as Chairperson of the Interdisciplinary Care Plan Team.
Work with the Interdisciplinary Care Plan Team in developing a comprehensive resident assessment
and care plan for each resident.
Serve on, participate in, and attend various other committees of the facility (e.g., Policy, Quality
Assessment and Assurance) as required, and as appointed by the Administrator.
Provide written and/or oral reports of the resident assessment/care plan functions as requested or
directed by committees.
Participate in functions involving discharge plans as may be necessary .
Evaluate and implement recommendations from established committees as they may pertain to the
assessment and/or care plan functions of the facility.

Personnel functions:
Maintain an effective, friendly working relationship with health professionals, physicians, consultants,
and governmental agencies that may be involved in the resident assessment/care plan functions of
the facility.
Meet with and solicit input from department supervisors concerning the resident assessment/care plan
functions of the facility.
Nursing Care Functions
Conduct or coordinate the interviewing of each resident for the resident's assessment
Evaluate each residents' condition and pertinent medical data to determine any need for special
assessment activities or a need to amend the admission assessment.
Develop and implement procedures with the Director of Nursing Services to inform all assessment
team members of the arrival of newly admitted residents.
Assist facility directors and supervisors in scheduling the resident assessment/care plan meetings.
Contact and assist in scheduling participation by outside members of the care plan team, including the
residents' representative and/or other interested family members.
Ensure that care provided is in accordance with the residents' wishes.

Staff Development:
Develop and participate in the planning, conducting, and scheduling of timely in-service training
classes that include assessment skills or techniques needed to complete the assessment functions
of the facility.
Assist the In-service Director/Educator in developing any training activities needed concerning resident
assessment/care plan skills (including, but not limited to initial or refresher courses relative to
techniques for interviewing residents, rehabilitation principles, commonly used psychotropic drugs,
care plan functions, etc.).
Attend and participate in annual OSHA and CDC in-service training programs for hazard
communication, TB management and blood-borne pathogens standard.
Attend and participate in advance directive in-service training programs for the staff and community.
Attend and participate in continuing education programs designed to help you keep abreast of changes
in your profession, as well as to maintain your license on a current status.

Care Plan and Assessment Functions
Develop preliminary and comprehensive assessments of the nursing needs of each resident, utilizing
the forms required by current rules or regulations and facility policies.
Ensure that appropriate health professionals are involved in the assessment.
Ensure that all members of the assessment team are aware of the importance of completeness and
accuracy in their assessment functions and that they are aware of the penalties, including civil money
penalties, for false certification.
Coordinate the development of a written plan of care (preliminary and comprehensive) for each
resident that identifies the problems/needs of the resident, indicates the care to be given, goals to be
accomplished, and which professional service is responsible for each element of care.
Ensure that the care plan includes measurable objectives and timetables to meet the resident's medical,
nursing, and mental and psychosocial needs as identified in the residents' assessment.
Ensure that an initial resident assessment is completed within fourteen days of the resident's admission.
Ensure that a comprehensive care plan is completed within twenty-one days of the resident's
admission.
Assist the nursing staff in encouraging the resident and his/her family to participate in the
development and review of the resident's plan of care.
Develop the schedule of activities required for the resident assessment and plan of care.
Assist the Director of Nursing Services and relevant supervisors of other departments in ensuring that
all personnel involved in providing care to the resident are aware of the resident's care plan and that
nursing personnel refer to the resident's care plan prior to administering daily care to the resident
Ensure that quarterly and annual resident assessments and care plan reviews are made on a timely
basis.
Ensure that a complete resident assessment is conducted within fourteen days of a significant change in
the resident's condition.
Coordinate the review and revision of the resident's care plan by the interdisciplinary team after each
quarterly review or other assessment assuring that the care plan is evaluated and revised each time
an assessment is done or when there is a change in the resident's status.
Assist the Director of Nursing Services and other relevant directors and supervisors in maintaining
good rapport and morale between and within departments to ensure that a team effort is achieved in
developing and implementing a comprehensive assessment and plan of care.
Inform all assessment team members of the requirements for accuracy and completion of the resident
assessment (MDS).
Ensure that each portion of the assessment is signed and dated by the person completing that portion
of the MOS.
Sign and date the assessment instrument to certify its completion.
Ensure that medical and nursing care is administered in accordance with the resident's wishes,
including the Implementation of advance directives.
Safety and Sanitation:
Ensure that all personnel performing tasks that involve potential exposure to blood/body fluids
participate in appropriate in- service training programs prior to performing such tasks.
Ensure that all nursing service personnel comply with established departmental policies and
procedures.
Ensure that nursing service personnel participate in and conduct all fire safety and disaster
preparedness drills in a safe and professional manner.
Report missing/illegible labels and MSDSs to the safety officer or other designated person.
Equipment and Supply Functions:
Recommend to the Director of Nursing any equipment and supply needs of the department.
Resident Rights
Maintain the confidentiality of all resident care information.
Ensure that all residents are treated fairly, and with kindness, dignity, and respect.
Ensure that resident interviews are conducted in private.
Ensure that all members of the assessment team and the interdisciplinary care planning/medical and
nursing team are knowledgeable of the residents' responsibilities and rights including the right to
refuse treatment.
Ensure that nursing staff personnel honor the residents' refusal of treatment request Ensure that
such requests are in accordance with the facility's policies governing advance directives.
Ensure that the facility's policies and procedures governing advance directives are reviewed with the
resident and/or representative.
Report and investigate all allegations of resident abuse and/or misappropriation of resident property.
Review any complaints or grievances made by residents regarding the resident assessment or care
plan.
Ensure that a written record is made of any resident's complaints or grievances with a full accounting
of any actions taken and the current status of the complaint.

Expense Control
Keep abreast of economic conditions/situations and recommend to the Director adjustments in nursing
services that ensure the continued ability to provide quality care.
Director adjustments in nursing services that ensure the continued ability to provide quality care.
Required Skills/Abilities
Demonstrate clinical assessment skills at a level necessary to meet the job
requirements.
Ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.
Knowledgeable of nursing and medical practices and procedures, as well as
laws, regulations, and guidelines that pertain to
long-term care.
Ability to plan, organizes, develop, implement, and interpret the programs, goals,
objectives, and policies and procedures that are necessary for providing quality
care.
Must possess creativity, integrity, and initiative.
Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language and a
basic understanding of computer technology, including email use.
Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family
members, visitors, government agencies/personnel, and the general public.
Along with the leadership and supervisory ability and the willingness to work
harmoniously with other personnel.
Must be willing to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to
incorporate them into existing nursing practices.
Must have patience, tact, a cheerful disposition and enthusiasm as well as the
willingness to handle difficult residents and staff.

Education and Experience:
Must be a qualified licensed RN or LPN/LVN in good standing and currently licensed by the State in
which employed.
Completion of post-secondary education or otherwise able to read, write and follow oral and written
directions at a level necessary to accomplish thejob.
Must have, as a minimum, three years of clinical experience in a health care setting. Minimum of two
years of experience in a long-term care setting.

Physical Requirements:
Must be able to move intermittently throughout the workday.
Must be able to speak and write the English language in an understandable manner.
Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.
Must be able to see and hear or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately
to assure that the requirements of this position can be fully met.
Must function independently and have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with
residents, personnel, support agencies, and outside agencies.
Must meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of this facility which include a
medical and physical examination.
Must be able to push, pull, move, and/or lift a minimum of 30-40 pounds to a minimum height of waist
height and be able to push, pull, move, and/or carry such weight a minimum distance of 20 feet.
Must be willing to perform tasks that may involve exposure to the resident's blood or body fluids.
May be necessary to assist in the evacuation of residents during emergency situations.

Work Environment
Works in office area(s) as well as throughout the nursing service area (i.e., drug rooms, nurses' stations,
resident rooms, etc.).
Is subject to frequent interruptions.
Is involved with residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel, etc., under all conditions
and circumstances.
Is subject to hostile and emotionally upset residents, family members, personnel, and visitors.
Communicates with the medical staff, nursing personnel, and other department supervisors.
Works beyond normal working hours and on weekends and holidays when necessary.
Is subject to call-back during emergency conditions (e.g., severe weather, evacuation, post-disaster,
etc.).
Is involved in community/civic health matters/projects as appropriate.
Attends and participates in continuing educational programs.
Is subject to injury from falls, burns from equipment odors, etc., throughout the work day, as well as to
reactions from dust disinfectants, tobacco smoke, and other air contaminants.
Is subject to exposure to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including TB and the AIDS and
Hepatitis B viruses.
May be subject to the handling of and exposure to hazardous chemicals.
Maintains a liaison with the residents, their families, support departments, etc., to adequately plan for
the residents' needs.