MDS Coordinator - Skilled Nursing

The MDS Coordinator at Senior Lifestyle is responsible for coordinating and facilitating the resident assessment process, ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations. This includes scheduling assessments, gathering necessary documentation, attending care conferences, and collaborating with the interdisciplinary team to develop comprehensive care plans, all aimed at maximizing residents' functional abilities and satisfaction.

To apply for the MDS Coordinator position at Senior Lifestyle, you need a Bachelor’s Degree, preferably with an emphasis on geriatrics, and an RN license. Additionally, having 3-5 years of experience in MDS processes and healthcare, as well as RAC-CT certification, will enhance your application.

The MDS Coordinator ensures compliance with regulations at Senior Lifestyle by staying updated on federal and state rules governing resident assessments, accurately encoding assessment item sets, and regularly reviewing documentation and state validation reports. This role also involves training nursing staff on compliance matters and participating in various committees to uphold high standards.

Essential skills for the MDS Coordinator role at Senior Lifestyle include the ability to manage multiple assessment schedules, communicate effectively with staff and families, and collaborate with an interdisciplinary team. Proficiency in ICD-10, Microsoft Office, and information systems like PointClickCare is also important for successfully performing job duties.

As an MDS Coordinator at Senior Lifestyle, you can expect a supportive and enriching work environment where HEART values are prioritized. You will work alongside dedicated professionals in a skilled nursing facility focused on improving residents' lives, with opportunities for collaboration and professional growth.

When answering this question, highlight specific experiences you've had with the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) process in past roles. Discuss any challenges you faced, how you overcame them, and the impact your actions had on residents' care plans. This will demonstrate your expertise and problem-solving skills.

Discuss your strategies for fostering open communication within teams, such as regular meetings, using shared digital tools for scheduling and updates, and actively encouraging feedback. Providing real-world examples of how this has improved care coordination in previous roles will strengthen your response.

Describe your organizational skills, such as using calendars or management software to track deadlines and assess priorities. You might also discuss any specific methods for grouping assessments or delegating tasks when appropriate. This shows your aptitude for handling a high workload effectively.

When answering, emphasize your ability to remain calm under pressure and detail your strategies for managing stress, such as prioritization, time management, and seeking support from your team. Sharing an example of a challenging deadline you successfully met will provide credibility to your answer.

Your answer should reflect your understanding of both accuracy and compassion in assessments. Articulate that every assessment is integral to providing personalized care and enhancing the resident's quality of life. Discuss how you ensure assessments are thorough and reflective of each resident's unique needs.

Respond by providing a concrete scenario where you successfully engaged a family in the care planning process, illustrating your commitment to a family-centered approach. Discuss the benefits that involvement had on the care plan and how it strengthened relationships with residents and their families.

Explain your commitment to ongoing professional development, such as attending training sessions, webinars, or participating in professional organizations. Detail any specific resources you use for staying informed about regulatory changes, demonstrating your proactive approach to compliance.

Share your proficiency with PointClickCare and any relevant software. Describe how you've used these tools in past roles to improve workflows, data entry, or reporting. Highlight your quick learning ability with new technology to reassure the interviewer of your adaptability.

Discuss the importance of protecting resident information and detail the strategies you use to maintain HIPAA compliance, such as training staff, regularly reviewing policies, and implementing safeguards for sensitive data. Mentioning specific incidents where you successfully upheld compliance can add weight to your answer.

Your answer should reflect both personal and professional motivations. Talk about your passion for improving the lives of residents, your alignment with Senior Lifestyle's HEART values, and how you foresee your skills contributing to the team. A sincere passion will resonate well with the interviewer.