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MDS coordinator relationships and nursing home care processes.
Mary L Piven1, Natalie Ammarell, Donald Bailey
1University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing, USA.
Western Journal of Nursing Research
|April 6, 2006
Summary
Minimum Data Set (MDS) coordinators who foster connections and information flow improve nursing home care planning. Their relationship patterns significantly impact resident assessment quality and overall care processes in facilities.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Healthcare Management
- Organizational Behavior
Background:
- Minimum Data Set (MDS) coordinators play a crucial role in nursing home resident assessment and care planning.
- The influence of MDS coordinators' relational dynamics on care processes beyond regulatory compliance is not well understood.
- Existing research lacks insight into how MDS coordinators' interactions shape the quality of care in long-term care facilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the impact of Minimum Data Set (MDS) coordinators' relationship patterns on nursing home care processes.
- To investigate how fostering connections, information flow, and cognitive diversity by MDS coordinators affects care planning.
- To identify MDS coordinators as a potential source of enhanced quality of care within the nursing home industry.
Main Methods:
- The study employed a qualitative approach using two nursing home case studies.
- Complexity science principles guided the investigation into MDS coordinators' relationship patterns.
- Assessment focused on the extent to which coordinators utilized and promoted connections, information exchange, and cognitive diversity.
Main Results:
- Nursing homes where MDS coordinators actively fostered information flow, good connections, and cognitive diversity demonstrated improved assessment and care planning.
- Conversely, sites where these relational parameters were less developed showed minimal positive influence on care processes.
- MDS coordinators' relational strategies were directly linked to the effectiveness of care coordination and planning.
Conclusions:
- MDS coordinators' relationship patterns are a significant determinant of nursing home care quality.
- Proactively cultivating strong connections, open information exchange, and diverse perspectives by MDS coordinators can enhance resident care.
- MDS coordinators represent an underutilized asset for improving quality of care in the nursing home sector.