Should MDS Coordinator Positions be Outsourced?

Skilled Nursing News recently reported about this in their article titled "Some SNFs 'Months Behind' on MDS Assessments as New Opportunities to Outsource Role Grow" .

While the MDS role has always been a challenge for some SNFs to retain, it seems the pandemic has made it even more so. Many SNFs are reporting that turnover in this position has increased while others are pulling the MDS nurse to the floor in order to meet patient care requirements.

This leads to a lot of stress for SNF operators who definitely do not want to spend money on contract services or agency and also need revenue on the books. But should there be a shift in strategy in the case of the MDS role? After all, this is a position that brings revenue into the facility. It doesn't make sense to let MDS assessment pile up and slow down cash flow. It's not just about the money though. Late assessments also put the facility at risk for:

• Quality of care declines

• Care plan delays

• QM inaccuracies

• Survey citations

• Missed opportunities for maximum case-mix

If your MDS nurse is covering the floor because you cannot find nurses - hiring a temporary MDS nurse will help ease the burden of mounting late assessments and help prevent burnout. This may make the difference between losing a great MDS nurse. It also ensures that compliance is maintained and the above listed risks are dramatically reduced.

Having a temporary MDS professional to fill the role while you are searching for a new candidate will make the job more desirable to your future MDS Coordinator. Not a lot of people want to jump out the frying pan and into the fire! Having a well-maintained, up-to-date MDS office may help you attract a great candidate.

Thankfully, with electronic medical records, much of the MDS can be completed remotely. If your facility staff can get the required interviews done timely and have skin assessments documented a good MDS professional can probably complete most of the assessment with little to no need for onsite staff intervention. This is the best option for facilities that have very low income/revenue or low census. A remote MDS professional is also a great option for short, infrequent needs, for example, the regular MDS nurse is out sick or working the floor.

If your budget can afford the travel costs of an onsite MDS professional that is always the safest and most desirable route. This allows for them to assess the residents with their own eyes and create a more complete care plan once the assessment is complete.

Has your facility had difficulty keeping up with MDS assessments? Are you weekly or months behind? I'd love the opportunity to help you get back on track!

MDS Solutions HQ

Do you want to take your facility to the next level? Let MDS Solutions HQ show you where your opportunities are. Whether it’s improved quality of care, better survey outcomes or if revenue is your focus it all begins with the MDS. I specialize in training MDS nurses in the RAI process, filling MDS openings, training floor nurses to document skilled need, educating revenue capture through the PDPM process, analyzing and creating action plans for QM and 5 star success.

Contact me at:

https://mdssolutionshq.wixsite.com/my-site

MDSSolutionsHQ@gmail.com or 404-309-3013

Vanessa Tyscka founded MDS Solutions HQ after 25+ years of service focused on serving Skilled Nursing Facilities and their residents. During her career she has worked as a Senior Reimbursement Specialist, Regional MDS Director, MDS Coordinator, DON, ADON, Unit Manager, RN, LPN, and CNA. She has worked for large and medium sized corporations and also has consulting experience in standalone and small organizations. She brings a passion of caring and expert knowledge to every facility she visits. To learn more about Vanessa’s experience and services check out her website or visit her LinkedIn page: www.linkedin.com/in/vanessatysckarn

When Vanessa isn’t working she enjoys cooking things she’s never tried before and spending time in the mountains or on a beach.