◂  September 2026

Webinar - DON Playbook: Understanding the MDS
9/15/2026

Presented By:

  • Eleisha Wilkes, RN, GERO-BC, RAC-CT, RAC-CTA, DNS-CT, QCP

Contact Person:

Proactive Medical Review and Consulting [email protected]

Course Description:

The Minimum Data Set (MDS) drives nearly every aspect of SNF operations, from reimbursement and quality measures to care planning and regulatory compliance. For DONs, understanding how the MDS reflects clinical care and impacts facility outcomes is essential. This session provides a practical overview of key MDS components, how they connect to nursing documentation, and what DONs should monitor to ensure accuracy and compliance. Participants will explore the relationship between clinical assessment, interdisciplinary collaboration, and MDS coding, as well as the resulting clinical and reimbursement outcomes.

Learning Objectives

  1. Describe the purpose and regulatory significance of the MDS
  2. Identify key MDS sections that directly impact nursing care, quality measures, and reimbursement
  3. Recognize common documentation issues that can lead to inaccurate coding or compliance risks
  4. Apply strategies for effective MDS oversight, IDT collaboration, and quality improvement

Course Content

  • 15 min: Overview of the MDS 3.0 and regulatory requirements
  • 15 min: Key MDS sections for DON oversight
  • 20 min: How MDS data affects reimbursement and quality measures
  • 10 min: IDT communication and best practices

Target Audience:  DON, ADON

Instructional Level: Beginner/Intermediate

Program Length: 1 hour

List Learning Objectives: What participants will gain from attending this session:

Content: Bullet-point list of information covered to meet learning objective:

1. Describe the purpose and regulatory significance of the MDS

  • Overview of the MDS 3.0 and its regulatory purpose under the RAI process
  • The DON’s role in MDS oversight and IDT collaboration
  • Key players in the assessment process
  • Common misconceptions

2. Identify key MDS sections that directly impact nursing care, quality measures, and reimbursement

  • Section GG – Function status and documentation
  • Section J – Falls, pain, and clinical follow-up
  • Section M – Skin integrity and pressure ulcers
  • Section I – Diagnoses
  • Other relevant items/sections

3. Recognize common documentation issues that can lead to inaccurate coding or compliance risks

  • How nursing documentation supports coding
  • Examples of insufficient documentation and resulting challenges

4. Apply strategies for effective MDS oversight, IDT collaboration, and quality Improvement

  • Establishing a routine review process
  • Using MDS data for quality improvement and performance tracking
  • DON’s role in supporting MDS education and accountability

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