"Striving for Excellence": Minimum Data Set Coordinators' Perceptions of Their Role in the Nursing Home

The purpose of the current study was to explore how Minimum Data Set (MDS) coordinators perceive their role and the assessment process. Eleven MDS coordinators from 10 geographically dispersed nursing homes (NHs) were interviewed between May and September 2013. Four broad themes emerged from content analysis: (a) information gathering, (b) interdisciplinary coordination, (c) role challenges, and (d) resources. The first two themes referred to key components and competencies in the MDS coordinators' role, the third theme dealt with certain challenges inherent in the role, and the fourth theme highlighted resources that helped address these challenges. The current study provides insight into how MDS coordinators perceive their role, as well as some of the challenges they face to successfully enact that role. The current findings can help inform NH management staff, such as directors of nursing and NH administrators, and policy makers, on how best to support MDS coordinators' work to enable efficient and accurate resident assessment processes.