How long after admission must the MDS be completed?

• A. 14 days
• B. 7 days
• C. 21 days
• D. 30 days

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is timing of the initial assessment after a resident is admitted to a long-term care setting. The initial comprehensive MDS must be completed within two weeks of admission. This early completion ensures the interdisciplinary team has a current, complete picture of the resident’s functional status, cognitive status, mood, swallowing and nutrition risks, and other health factors. With this timely data, the care plan— including nutrition interventions and monitoring—can be started promptly, reducing the chance of unmanaged issues and helping align care with the resident’s needs. Delaying the MDS beyond this window can leave important information unstated or outdated, hindering effective planning and timely care. Shorter than two weeks is considered too soon to gather all baseline data, while longer delays undermine timely assessment and intervention.