The minimum data set: No longer just for clinical assessment

Minimum Data Set (MDS) data, available in every nursing home in the United States, are now integral to reimbursement for Medicare nationwide and Medicaid in some states. MDS data are also used for clinical assessment, improvement in clinical practice, and evaluation of care outcomes. The Resident Assessment Instrument process, Quality Indicators (QIs), Resource Utilization Groups, and implications for prospective payment are discussed in this article. Suggestions are presented for using QI information for quality improvement efforts as well as how all data may be incorporated into improving clinical practice and outcomes of care.