How To Become An MDS Coordinator: What It Is and Career Path

What is an mds coordinator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

An MDS coordinator oversees the Minimum Data Set (MDS) process in healthcare facilities, including nursing homes and hospitals. This involves assessing patients' conditions, developing care plans, and documenting progress. They work with healthcare providers to ensure that patients receive high-quality care, and they communicate with patients and families about treatment options and progress. MDS coordinators must have an understanding of medical terminology and regulatory requirements, as well as communication and organizational skills.

ScoreMDS CoordinatorUS Average

Salary

5.6

Avg. Salary $71,862

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

10.0

Growth Rate 6%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.3

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.44%

Asian 8.99%

Black or African American 10.39%

Hispanic or Latino 9.57%

Unknown 4.30%

White 66.31%

Gender

female 91.46%

male 8.54%

Age - 43

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43

Stress Level

10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

9.1

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

7.8

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an MDS Coordinator?

Pros

Competitive salary and benefits
Chance to develop and apply analytical skills
Job security due to high demand for skilled MDS coordinators
Flexibility in work schedule
Opportunity to work in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, and home health agencies

Cons

Exposure to occupational hazards such as infectious diseases or physical strain from lifting patients
Paperwork-intensive job that requires attention to detail and accuracy
Frequent interruptions and distractions due to the nature of the job
Potential for conflict with other healthcare professionals or administrators
Burnout is common in this field due to the demands of the job

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Key steps to become an mds coordinator

Explore mds coordinator education requirements

Most common mds coordinator degrees

Associate

52.8 %

Bachelor's

29.1 %

Diploma

8.2 %

Start to develop specific mds coordinator skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	16.10%
Rehabilitation	14.26%
Assessment Process	5.26%
Quality Care	4.92%
Medicare	3.89%

Complete relevant mds coordinator training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New mds coordinators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an mds coordinator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real mds coordinator resumes.

Research mds coordinator duties and responsibilities

Manage timely completion of MDS assessments by other departments, appropriate CAA completion, scheduling of MDS.
Close attention to ARD and coordination with rehab director to attain maximum reimbursement under PPS and follow OBRA guidelines.
Manage and coordinate the workload of the release team members and are responsible for organizing and hosting all production release windows.
Perform assessments of residents in facility per Medicaid/Medicare guidelines, data entry of assessments, transmit assessments to Medicaid and Medicare.

Prepare your mds coordinator resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your mds coordinator resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an mds coordinator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

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Apply for mds coordinator jobs

Now it's time to start searching for an mds coordinator job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams