MDS Coordinator

Responsibilities

• Cookbook the timely completion and submission of all MDS assessments, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and facility-established deadlines.
• Collaborate with nursing and therapy leadership to ensure accurate PDPM coding and appropriate capture of clinical conditions, functional abilities, and skilled needs.
• Track and monitor Medicare and Medicaid assessment schedules, significant changes in condition, and required assessment triggers to ensure no missed or late assessments.
• Lead and participate in care plan meetings, ensuring individualized goals, interventions, and measurable outcomes are appropriately developed and updated.
• Validate supporting documentation for all coded sections of the MDS, ensuring it accurately reflects clinical observations, assessments, and resident status.
• Work closely with the Business Office and Billing teams to ensure MDS data aligns with reimbursement requirements and supports accurate claims processing.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of RAI guidelines, PDPM regulations, and CMS updates; communicate changes and provide training to clinical staff as needed.
• Review therapy documentation and collaborate with rehab leadership to ensure consistency between therapy minutes, functional scores, and overall MDS coding.
• Identify trends or patterns in documentation inconsistencies and develop corrective action plans in partnership with nurse managers and department heads.
• Participate in Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) initiatives by reporting findings, contributing recommendations, and supporting outcome-driven improvements.
• Assist in monitoring resident outcomes, quality indicators, and care plan effectiveness, ensuring interventions are adjusted as needed to support resident progress.
• Serve as a resource for audit readiness by maintaining organized assessment records, up-to-date competencies, and accurate documentation to support survey compliance.

Qualifications

• Must be an RN or a seasoned LPN.
• Long-term care experience preferred, with strong understanding of resident care and clinical workflows.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to interpret clinical documentation accurately.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills with interdisciplinary team members.
• Able to manage deadlines, prioritize tasks, and maintain organized, compliant documentation.
• Willingness to learn MDS/RAI processes, PDPM guidelines, and regulatory requirements.