Implementation of the resident assessment instrument: a Canadian experience

As the population ages, the increasing number and complexity of needs of individuals requiring institutionalization will increase the demands for chronic care services. In this article, the authors describe the implementation process used to introduce interdisciplinary staff to the use of the Minimum Data Set (MDS) for assessment of both nursing home and chronic care residents. This screening tool assesses resident characteristics over a wide spectrum of dimensions. The assessment findings are then integrated into the clinical plan of care.