Failure to Timely Transmit MDS Assessments Due to EMR Transition
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to transmit quarterly Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments within the required time frame for two residents. For one resident, the quarterly MDS assessment was completed and signed by the MDS Coordinator, but due to a transition from an old to a new electronic medical records program, the transmission process was not triggered, resulting in the assessment being transmitted over a month late. The MDS Coordinator stated that all completed MDS assessments were transmitted every other week, but the transition process led to this particular assessment being missed until it was discovered and transmitted later. For another resident, the quarterly MDS assessment was also affected by the transition to the new electronic medical records system. The assessment was signed late and, similarly, the transmission process was not triggered, resulting in the assessment not being transmitted to the national database as required. Both the MDS Coordinator and the Administrator acknowledged during interviews that MDS assessments should be completed and transmitted in a timely manner, but the transition process led to delays for these two residents.