MDS Director

Stony Brook University•Stony Brook, NY

About The Position

At the Long Island State Veterans Home the MDS Director is responsible for the full Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) process at the Long Island State Veterans Home. This leadership role ensures accurate, timely, and compliant Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments while supporting high-quality, veteran-centered care. The MDS Director ensures regulatory compliance, drives reimbursement accuracy, and collaborates with all clinical disciplines to maintain the highest standards of documentation, care planning, and clinical integrity.

Requirements

Current New York State Registered Nurse (RN) license
A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible MDS/Medicare experience within a long term care or skilled nursing facility
Knowledge of MDS 3.0, RAI guidelines, and PDPM.
Understanding of NYS DOH nursing home regulations.
Leadership experience with interdisciplinary teams.
PRI certification - Attention to detail and accuracy.
Strong communication and leadership skills.
Ability to interpret regulatory requirements.
Proficiency with EHR systems and MDS software.
Commitment to compassionate, veteran-centered care.

Nice To Haves

BSN
RAC-CT or RAC-CTA certification.
Experience in state-operated or veterans’ long-term care.
Training in trauma-informed care or veteran-specific needs

Responsibilities

Direct and manage all aspects of the MDS 3.0 assessment process, including scheduling, completion, submission, and quality audits.
Ensure compliance with federal and state regulations, including CMS RAI Manual requirements and NYS DOH standards.
Oversee Care Area Assessments (CAAs) and ensure that interdisciplinary care plans accurately reflect resident needs, goals, and preferences.
Lead and coordinate the interdisciplinary team (IDT) for assessment review, documentation updates, and care planning.
Facilitate IDT meetings and ensure timely assessment completion and regulatory compliance.
Collaborate closely with nursing, rehabilitation, social work, dietary, and medical providers to ensure accurate and consistent clinical documentation.
Conduct internal audits of MDS accuracy, documentation quality, and care plan alignment.
Participate in QAPI initiatives and relevant committees, including Safety Committee, QAPI Steering Committee, Compliance and others as assigned.
Support survey readiness and participate in NYS DOH surveys and CMS audits.
Ensure precise MDS coding to support appropriate reimbursement under PDPM (Patient-Driven Payment Model).
Work with finance and billing teams to reconcile assessment data and reimbursement outcomes.
Monitor discharge tracking, re-entry documentation, and related processes.
Ensure assessments reflect unique clinical and psychosocial needs of veterans.
Incorporate trauma-informed care principles.
Uphold LISVH’s mission of high-quality care for veterans and their families.