MDS Section Q Update!
CMS will collect and analyze data from nine skilled nursing facilities in six states from February 1 to 28, 2011. The goal of the pilot test is to add new language to section Q in order to “achieve a balance between giving individual residents a voice and a choice about the services they receive while being sensitive to those individuals who may be unable to voice their preferences or be disturbed by the assessment process”. Click here for the CMS document that spells out the initial challenges and concerns with the current Section Q, the objectives of the new language, a summary of the section Q items being tested, the pilot test timeline, and additional resources.