Covenant Health

Certified MDS Coordinator, Transitional Care 

PRN/OCC, Variable Hours & Shifts

The Transitional Care Unit (9 North / TCU) is a short-term care facility located on the 9^th floor of Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center. TCU is a 24 private bed unit providing extended physical or occupational therapy or skilled nursing care to patients transitioning from hospital to home.

Most patients stay in the TCU 14 to 20 days at most. Patients on our unit have varied diagnoses which include cardiac, respiratory and oncology comorbidities and most are over the age of 65. Some patients come to TCU to receive wound care, or after they have had and joint replacement procedures. All patients on our unit benefit from our Therapy Department and have full access to the medical doctors in our facility.

9 North has a registered nurse on duty around the clock. Skilled caregivers on this unit also include licensed practical nurses, certified nursing assistants, case managers, therapists and activities coordinators. In addition to having excellent critical thinking skills, our ideal candidate will also possess outstanding communication and interpersonal skills.

As an organization, we want to grow our employees by promoting a culture of excellence and professionalism. Fort Sanders Regional has achieved NICHE (Nurses Improving Care for Health System Elders) Exemplar status every year since 2013. Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center was the first NICHE-certified facility in our region and now joins other hospitals and a team of nationally recognized researchers, educators, nurses, and doctors in a vision of sensitive care for patients 65 and older. Exemplar status is the highest of four possible program levels, recognizing our commitment to providing the highest level of geriatric care.

If you are passionate about the geriatric patient population and strive to always put your patients first, apply for our Transitional Care Unit today!

Position Summary: Assesses, plans, monitors and evaluates options and services to meet an individual’s health needs through communication and the coordination of available resources.  Enhances service quality and assists in the delivery of Attends seminars on LTC Perspective Payment System and updates on federal and state regulations and disseminates information to staff.

Recruiter: Lacey Spoon || Lspoon2@covhlth.com || 865-374-5404

• Will schedule the ARD’s (Assessment Reference Date) for Payment Assessments with the Rehab Director or designee daily, weekly, and as needed in a manner that accurately captures the RUG (Resource Utilization Group) category.
• Will provide a schedule of ARD’s and Assessment types weekly and as needed to the IDT in order to facilitate the timely completion of MDS sections and CAA’s (Care Area Assessments) by each discipline.
• Is expected to use the RAI Manual as a resource during the assessment coding process.
• Will coordinate the completion of MDS sections according to facility assignments.
• Will communicate to members of the IDT as needed based on timeliness of completion. The MDS Coordinator is expected to report any issues with timely completion to the Administrator immediately.
• Will facilitate with the IDT members, the completion of assessments and corresponding due dates for Z0400A-L, Z0500B, V0200B2 and V0200C2 according to the RAI Manual; reference Chapter 2, Section 2.6.
• Will ensure the transmission of Admission and Discharge Assessment and PPS within 14 days of the completion date in Z0500B; reference Chapter 5, Section 5.2.
• Will ensure the transmission of Comprehensive assessments within 14 days of the Care Plan Completion Date (V0200C2).
• Will confirm the transmission file and review the printed initial and final validation report.
• Will facilitate the correction of any fatal errors immediately and retransmit the assessment until an accepted validation report is received.
• Will also address non-fatal errors using the Quality Improvement and Evaluation System (QIES) Assessment Submission and Processing (ASAP) System MDS 3.0 Provider User's Guide. Reference RAI Manual Chapter 5, Section 5.5.
• Will maintain validation reports in a transmittal notebook to be organized by month.
• Will facilitate the completion and updating of resident care plans within the MDS Department and the IDT to reflect the resident’s most current needs.
• Will identify residents in need of a Significant Change in Status Assessment based on criteria in the RAI Manual Chapter 2, Section 2.6.
• Will participate the interdisciplinary care plan team meeting weekly and as needed.
• Will participate in facility staff education as it relates to the RAI process, and the coordination of obtaining accurate documentation from direct care staff.
• Will notify the facility Director of Nursing (DON) and/or Administrator of risk areas when coded on the MDS.
• Will compile data reports based on MDS data as requested by the Administrator or DON.
• Will utilize the facility’s software program and computer system to comply with federal requirements for completion and encoding.
• Attends seminars on LTC Perspective Payment System and updates on federal and state regulations and disseminates information to staff.
• Serves as clinical and regulatory resource for all staff.
• Participates in mock surveys in preparation for state and the federal surveys
• Reviews medical records regularly for adherence to care plan. Investigates variances from plan and adjusts plan based upon assessment.
• Verifies billing office information to assure consistent billing of RUG categories.
• Tracks RUG days monthly and reports to Administration on reimbursement status.
• Functions as Infection Control Nurse for TCU. Collects, monitors and disseminates data relating to infection control indicators. Collaborates with hospital Infection Control contact on unit specific and hospital-wide issues.
• Provides education on infection control process and regulations to staff.
• Assists with orientation of new hires regarding HCFA regulations of LTC/PPS.
• Follows policies, procedures, and safety standards. Completes required education assignments annually. Works toward achieving goals and objectives, and participates in quality improvement initiatives as requested.
• Assists in maintaining a safe environment for all residents, which may include reporting to appropriate managerial staff equipment that is out of order, suspicion of resident abuse, mistreatment, neglect and reporting of suspicion of criminal activities.
• Complete nursing duties when necessary as specified in nursing policies.

Minimum Education: 

None specified; however, must be sufficient to meet the standards for achievement of the below indicated license and/or certification as required by the issuing authority.

Minimum Experience:

Two (2) to five (5) years clinical practice is required. Excellent communication skills, leadership skills; ability to accept and incorporate feedback; problem solving and priority setting skills.

Licensure Requirement:

Current RN license, RAC-C (Resident Assessment Coordinator-Credentialed) certification through AANAC required within 90 days of hire into position.

RN License