The MDS-Reimbursement Nexus

At its core, the MDS is a comprehensive assessment tool used to evaluate the health and functional status of residents in long-term care settings. However, its impact extends far beyond clinical evaluation. MDS data plays a central role in determining reimbursement levels for healthcare facilities, impacting funding from both government programs and insurance providers.

According to the research, “Our personalities tend to change over time. This is inevitable and due, in part, to the aging process.” It can be observed with the shifting of our choices such as with music and culinary tastes. So why not take charge of it? The research further suggests that “with a determined approach, we can nudge ourselves toward healthy behaviors that keeps us sharp mentally and positive with age.” The key is in our power to imagine, to care and commit to a better life. The question, then, is it not at all possible to change a personality as we age and for the better? I believe that it’s possible if we choose to face the challenges that are ahead of us. The desire to change is, therefore, universal. The research declares, “that with intent and self-determination, a change in one’s personality can improve a relationship with family and friends, and with optimism and a view on life that is less pessimistic.”

Once again, the question is, who will you be in ten years? It is relatively easy to look back and note all of the “achievements” we have accomplished, then it is to look forward and try imagining how we can ever change or realize the possibility of achieving anything.

Estate Sale Planning

Comedians are masters at dealing with change. . .not only are we in a different city in front of a different industry every single week, but we get stuck in weirder change situations than most people could ever even think up! We’re not talking your run-of-the-mill change situations. . . Twice I’ve been introduced after they read off the list of people in the organization who died! GREAT idea for comedy! Oh, and I once had to perform for 600 people while standing on a pedestal as they sat around me. I basically had to spin and tell jokes. And then there was the time I rode a Lazy Susan as IT spun in and out of the room, so audience members could either hear the set-up or the punchline. . .but of course not both! How did I deal with these whacko change situations and millions of other ones in my 20+ years in this business? And more importantly, how can my on-the-job training in change translate to you and your situation at work? Well come on out to my keynote Finding the Funny in Change and find out! It will be funny and informative with practical tips that you can use immediately back at work to handle stressful change through using humor.

Many, many speakers will tell you that you need to use humor, but they don’t tell you HOW. I will. My 20+ years in the comedy writing business – writing for everyone from Jay Leno’s monologue on the Tonight Show to guests on the Jerry Springer Show (my parents are proud!) means I can show anyone how to use humor to their advantage. And when you’re dealing with change, you need all the advantages you can get. Think about it, you sit down to a staff meeting, and you’ve just had a big change (budget cuts, layoffs, no more free coffee – pick one). If you don’t talk about it, people are angry. If you do talk about it, people are, well, still angry. But how about talking about it with a little humor? It can work! And don’t worry, I’ll toss in a few “humor rules” so you don’t get yourself in trouble!