MDS Coordinator job description.
An MDS Coordinator manages the Minimum Data Set assessment process in a skilled nursing or long-term care facility, ensuring accurate, timely resident assessments that drive care planning and reimbursement. They coordinate with interdisciplinary teams to keep documentation compliant with regulatory timelines.
The MDS Coordinator job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 8 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: MDS Coordinator Reports to: Director of Nursing
An MDS Coordinator manages the Minimum Data Set assessment process in a skilled nursing or long-term care facility, ensuring accurate, timely resident assessments that drive care planning and reimbursement. They coordinate with interdisciplinary teams to keep documentation compliant with regulatory timelines.
- Complete and submit Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments within regulatory timelines
- Coordinate interdisciplinary team input for accurate resident assessments
- Develop and update individualized care plans based on assessment data
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
8 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
4 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
3 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
5 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Director of Nursing
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Complete and submit Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments within regulatory timelines
- Coordinate interdisciplinary team input for accurate resident assessments
- Develop and update individualized care plans based on assessment data
- Monitor case-mix index and reimbursement implications of assessments
- Ensure documentation compliance with state and federal regulations
- Train nursing and care staff on MDS-related documentation requirements
- Track assessment schedules and flag upcoming due dates
- Participate in survey preparation and regulatory audits
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- Current licensure/board certification as a Registered Nurse or LPN as required by state and employer
- Experience in skilled nursing or long-term care documentation
- Working knowledge of MDS 3.0 and RAI process requirements
- Strong organizational and regulatory compliance skills
- Certification as a Resident Assessment Coordinator (RAC-CT)
- Prior experience in a dedicated MDS Coordinator role
- Familiarity with case-mix reimbursement systems
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the MDS Coordinator job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this MDS Coordinator job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The mid band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (Director of Nursing) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- What credential does an MDS Coordinator need?
- Employers typically require current licensure/board certification as a Registered Nurse or LPN as required by state and employer, often paired with RAC-CT certification.
- Why is the MDS Coordinator role important to a facility?
- Accurate, timely MDS assessments directly affect resident care planning and facility reimbursement, making this a compliance-critical role.
Other documents in this neighbourhood.
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Care Manager
A Care Manager coordinates comprehensive care plans for patients or clients, often those with chronic conditions or complex needs, ensuring continuity of services across providers.
Home Health Registered Nurse
A Home Health Registered Nurse provides skilled nursing care to patients in their homes, managing chronic conditions, post-surgical recovery, and other medical needs.
This MDS Coordinator job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.