What is the Minimum Data Set (MDS)?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Minimum Data Set (MDS) is a patient assessment instrument specifically designed for use in skilled nursing facilities. It is used to standardize the collection of data on a patient's physical, emotional, and cognitive status for the purpose of determining their level of care needs and developing an individualized care plan. Option A is incorrect because the MDS is not primarily used for clinical research, although the data collected may be used in research studies. Option B is incorrect because case-mix groups are determined using the patient assessment tool called the Patient Assessment Instrument (PAI), not the MDS. Option D is incorrect because the determination of ambulatory payment classifications is based on the outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS), which uses a different set of data elements.

What Is the Minimum Data Set (MDS)