Re: re:Surveyors

[carol maher]

I disagree.  I think if the MDS coding has been wrong,  a Significant Change is called for.  Many of us have been hired to clean up a very broken MDS system.  I teach that the comprehensive MDS is to be the accurate picture of the resident.  When I train new MDS nurses and CNAs to correct ADL and MDS coding, I tell them to do a Significant Change when the last comprehensive does not accurately reflect the resident.  It would be impossible to do modifications when you start off with a total mess.  There would not be adequate documentation to show what was truly happening with the resident previously.  The best that you can do is complete a significant change and note in the RAPS that there is a new understanding of MDS and ADL coding.  Lots of work, yes, but then the assessments are an accurate reflection of the residents and care plans can be built that make sense. ----- Original Message ----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, March 02, 2004 3:57 AM Subject: re:Surveyors SInce everyone is saying not to do sig changes due to coding error am I write to assume that if you document such as the changes were due to coding errors etc that will support you for not doing a significiant change?  Sometimes the surveyors look at 1 MDS and compare and want to know why it was not done? Lisa     In a message dated 3/2/2004 12:35:58 AM Mountain Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: In a message dated 2/27/04 6:33:46 AM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: ANy words of wisdom to clear all this mess up would be appreciated.  Obviously due to coding errors I probably will be doing a lot of sig changes.  Upon looking at the history of the MDS it appears this nurse did modifications on almost every assessment she did.  Crazy! Lisa Been there, done that.  You can't go back.  Start with the current schedule and go forward and everything will end up corrected as each person is done for their next quarterly, annual, ect.  You don't have to do sig changes just because the last MDS was wrong.  And most will be beyond modifications (time wise) anyway.  Get the team together and work on it together.  90 days from now, it will be a whole new ballgame.  Rough situation and you have my utmost empathy.  It is hell to fix a seriously flawed "system".  Best of luck.   Sherri