Author Archive for: Diane Brown

Ask Diane: Will Swing Beds use the MDS 3.0?

November 18th, 2009

Q: Will Swing Beds use the MDS 3.0?

Diane: Yes, Swing Beds will use the new MDS 3.0.

Ask Diane: Does a certified activity director need to sign the activities section on the MDS 2.0?

November 12th, 2009

Q: Does the person filling out the Activities section on the MDS have to be a certified activity director or would it have to be co-signed by a certified activity director?

Diane: I haven’t seen a requirement in the RAI User’s Manual that requires a certified activity director to sign or co-sign the MDS. The individual filling out that section of the MDS should also be  the person to sign and date the completed sections.

According to the RAI User’s Manual, page 3-11, Item AA9, Signatures of Persons Completing These Items states, “All staff responsible for completing any part of the MDS, MPAF, and/or tracking forms must enter their signatures, titles, sections they completed, and the date they completed those sections.”

According to the Long-Term Care State Operations Manual a certified activity director under F249 must meet the following criteria:
         

• Is a qualified therapeutic specialist or an activities professional who:
  •  Is licensed or registered, if applicable, by the State in which practicing; and
               
  • Is eligible for certification as a therapeutic recreation specialist or as an activities professional by a recognized accrediting body on or after October 1, 1990; or
               
  • Has two years of experience in a social or recreational program within the last five years, one of which was full-time in a patient activities program in a healthcare setting; or
               
  • Is a qualified occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant; or
               
  • Has completed a training course approved by the State.

According to F249, an activity director is responsible for directing the development, implementation, supervision, and ongoing evaluation of the activities program. This includes the completion and/or directing/delegating the completion of the activities component of the comprehensive assessment; and contributing to and/or directing/delegating the contribution to the comprehensive care plan goals and approaches that are individualized to match the skills, abilities, and interests/preferences of each resident.

• Diane Brown

  

  Diane Brown is a long-term care regulatory specialist at HCPro. She is also a long-term care educator and consultant with over 25 years of operational experience in healthcare. For Diane's complete bio, visit the About page.

  Diane has written 44 posts.

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