What does an mds coordinator do?
An MDS coordinator is responsible for monitoring the conditions of the residents within a nursing care facility and ensuring that the institution provides high-quality care services. MDS coordinators conduct data management analysis to develop efficient treatment plans and activities, gathering patients' information, and listening to their needs and concerns. They also coordinate with other medical health professionals for further assessments, as well as reaching out to organizations for social services. An MDS coordinator must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in formulating strategic techniques to enhance the facility's operations and medical functions.
Mds coordinator responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real mds coordinator resumes:
- Manage timely completion of MDS assessments by other departments, appropriate CAA completion, scheduling of MDS.
- Close attention to ARD and coordination with rehab director to attain maximum reimbursement under PPS and follow OBRA guidelines.
- Manage and coordinate the workload of the release team members and are responsible for organizing and hosting all production release windows.
- Perform assessments of residents in facility per Medicaid/Medicare guidelines, data entry of assessments, transmit assessments to Medicaid and Medicare.
- Perform assessments using the MDS form for LTC and transmit those to the state for Medicare revenue and compliance.
- Charge nurse responsible for 50 SNF patients and supervise 60 staff members, providing formal and informal education for patient/family.
- Review medical records, verify insurance coverage and eligibility for Medicare, Medicaid or 3rd party payment.
- Direct, organize and complete require resident assessments and relate documentation for Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance reimbursement.
- Coordinate and actively participate in interdisciplinary team meetings with families, patients, social services, dietary, therapy and activities.
- Direct GIS mapping of sensitive habitats and values.
- Attend and directs UR meetings on a weekly basis.
- Schedule all Medicare, annual, quarterly, HMO.
- Prepare weekly UR list in preparation for the UR meeting.
- Generate designs, room layouts, and update blueprints in AutoCAD.
- Schedule OBRA, and PPS assessments and coordinate them with the IDT.
Mds coordinator skills and personality traits
We calculated that 16% of MDS Coordinators are proficient in Patients, Rehabilitation, and Assessment Process. They’re also known for soft skills such as Emotional stability, Physical stamina, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of MDS Coordinators that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patients, 16%
Facilitated monthly the Interdisciplinary Team in review of Psychotropic medications for all relevant patients and full medication review for all patients.
- Rehabilitation, 14%
Conducted the Interdisciplinary Team meetings and participated in Rehabilitation Conferences and Quality Assurance and Risk Management meetings.
- Assessment Process, 5%
Coordinated the resident assessment process within the required State and Federal Regulations.
- Quality Care, 5%
Worked closely with other departments to help provide quality care and accurate documentation.
- Medicare, 4%
Monitored patient progress and utilization of resources to ensure appropriate patient interventions and outcomes while meeting Medicare guidelines for reimbursement.
- Medicaid, 4%
Performed assessments of residents in facility per Medicaid/Medicare guidelines, data entry of assessments, transmitted assessments to Medicaid and Medicare.
Common skills that an mds coordinator uses to do their job include "patients," "rehabilitation," and "assessment process." You can find details on the most important mds coordinator responsibilities below.
Emotional stability. The most essential soft skill for an mds coordinator to carry out their responsibilities is emotional stability. This skill is important for the role because "registered nurses need emotional resilience and the ability to cope with human suffering, emergencies, and other stressors." Additionally, an mds coordinator resume shows how their duties depend on emotional stability: "promote the emotional and physical well- being of patients in a skilled rehabilitation nursing facility. "
Physical stamina. Many mds coordinator duties rely on physical stamina. "nurses should be comfortable performing physical tasks, such as lifting patients," so an mds coordinator will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways mds coordinator responsibilities rely on physical stamina: "conducted physical/psychosocial assessments and completed minimum data set (mds) documents submitted to cms for reimbursement. "
Detail oriented. mds coordinators are also known for detail oriented, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to mds coordinator responsibilities, because "registered nurses must be precise because they must ensure that patients get the correct treatments and medicines at the right time." An mds coordinator resume example shows how detail oriented is used in the workplace: "conduct medicare and medicaid care plan meetings weekly maintain accurate, detailed reports and records. "
Compassion. A big part of what mds coordinators do relies on "compassion." You can see how essential it is to mds coordinator responsibilities because "registered nurses should be caring and empathetic when working with patients." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical mds coordinator tasks: "provided compassionate palliative and bereavement to end of life geriatric patients and their families. "
Organizational skills. A commonly-found skill in mds coordinator job descriptions, "organizational skills" is essential to what mds coordinators do. Mds coordinator responsibilities rely on this skill because "nurses often work with multiple patients who have a variety of health needs." You can also see how mds coordinator duties rely on organizational skills in this resume example: "facilitated the organizational change to incorporate the mds 3.0. "
Communication skills. Lastly, "communication skills" is an important element of what an mds coordinator does. Mds coordinator responsibilities require this skill because "registered nurses must be able to communicate effectively with patients in order to understand their concerns and evaluate their health conditions." This resume example highlights how mds coordinator duties rely on this skill: "maintain communication with all disciplines of the idt to assure accuracy and timely completion of scheduled mds assessments. "
The three companies that hire the most mds coordinators are:
- Life Care Centers of America36 mds coordinators jobs
- The Center for Health Care Services28 mds coordinators jobs
- Consulate Health Care27 mds coordinators jobs
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Compare different mds coordinators
Mds coordinator vs. Nurse
Nurses are medical professionals assigned to a specific department in the hospital and provide their trusted department services. Nurses are in charge of taking patients' medical histories, getting vital signs, preparing patients for checkups or procedures, explaining upcoming practices, answering any questions, and communicating any concerns to the assigned doctor. Nurses should ensure that patients follow the medical advice given to them. They also assist patients in completing administrative requirements, such as filling out forms, validating details, and endorsing payments.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of an mds coordinator are more likely to require skills like "assessment process," "medicare," "state regulations," and "ltc." On the other hand, a job as a nurse requires skills like "cpr," "bls," "acute care," and "acls." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Nurses really shine in the government industry with an average salary of $63,263. Comparatively, mds coordinators tend to make the most money in the health care industry with an average salary of $69,453.nurses tend to reach similar levels of education than mds coordinators. In fact, nurses are 2.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Mds coordinator vs. Registered nurse
The primary responsibilities of a registered nurse involve caring for a variety of patients, from ill and injured to those who are healthy and wanting to stay that way. Nurses have different specialization and work with particular patients, such as newborn babies or those who are suffering from particular medical conditions. They work on different settings which includes hospital, outpatient facility, rehabilitation center, nursing home, dialysis center, home healthcare agency, and other offices. They can administer medications, wound care, and other aids or treatment plan. They also conduct medical tests, interpret the results, and monitor patients' recovery and progress.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real mds coordinator resumes. While mds coordinator responsibilities can utilize skills like "assessment process," "medicare," "medicaid," and "state regulations," registered nurses use skills like "bls," "cpr," "acute care," and "acls."
Registered nurses earn a higher average salary than mds coordinators. But registered nurses earn the highest pay in the health care industry, with an average salary of $64,500. Additionally, mds coordinators earn the highest salaries in the health care with average pay of $69,453 annually.registered nurses earn similar levels of education than mds coordinators in general. They're 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Mds coordinator vs. Registered nurse supervisor
A Registered Nurse Supervisor oversees a team of registered nurses in a hospital or clinic, making sure that all operations are efficient and up to standard. Moreover, they are responsible for the daily management of nurses, such as when it comes to evaluation, development, and assigning schedules and patients. Aside from supervising and ensuring that everything is running smoothly in their field, they also have to communicate and coordinate with physicians and even families of patients. The responsibilities of a Nurse Supervisor is challenging; this is why they must be proactive and excellent at communication.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from mds coordinator resumes include skills like "assessment process," "quality care," "medicare," and "medicaid," whereas a registered nurse supervisor is more likely to list skills in "cpr," "acute care," "customer service," and "acls. "
Registered nurse supervisors make a very good living in the professional industry with an average annual salary of $78,568. On the other hand, mds coordinators are paid the highest salary in the health care industry, with average annual pay of $69,453.registered nurse supervisors typically earn similar educational levels compared to mds coordinators. Specifically, they're 1.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Mds coordinator vs. Registered nurse unit manager
A Registered Nurse Unit Manager supervises the care of people who need hospice or long-term care. Another duty is to review clinical records for completeness and accuracy, as necessary.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between mds coordinators and registered nurse unit managers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, an mds coordinator might have more use for skills like "assessment process," "medicare," "social services," and "cms." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of registered nurse unit managers require skills like "term care," "care management," "health education," and "customer service. "
Registered nurse unit managers enjoy the best pay in the non profits industry, with an average salary of $89,160. For comparison, mds coordinators earn the highest salary in the health care industry.In general, registered nurse unit managers hold similar degree levels compared to mds coordinators. Registered nurse unit managers are 1.5% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of mds coordinator
Updated January 8, 2025
