A Simple Key to ARD Selection

Today, I want to talk about Assessment Reference Date selection or ARD Management.  One of the key factors for selection of ARD is the communication between the MDS Coordinator and the therapy department.  Whether you have a Rehab Manager or somebody within the department who is designated to communicate with the MDS Coordinator, it is significantly important to schedule a time to meet regularly.  Truly, here at Kris B Harmony, we feel as though ARD management should be something that occurs on a daily basis so that MDS and Rehab are discussing any time that there is a change in the level of care provided to a patient through the therapy minutes.  Potentially, a patient could get sick and miss therapy minutes or maybe a patient is doing exceptionally well and therapy is able to provide additional minutes to that patient.  The bottom line is that every day there should be some type of communication between MDS and Therapy to make sure that you are capturing the most accurate level of service provided to the patient.  This will in turn allow the facility to receive the most accurate level of reimbursement for the services that you are providing.  This hopefully will spur some discussion between MDS and Rehab.