Consulting Advisors

• 1988-1989—participated in original RTI MDS 1.0 "field" testing
• 1998 through 2007—planned and presented seminars to teach proper completion of MDS 2.0 to all involved clinical staff; planned and presented updates (at least 2/year) to MDS (primarily nursing) staff; Planned and presented seminars to teach Medicare and PPS to clinical and nursing staff; Planned and presented update seminars to all staff as needed
• From 2005 to present—AHCA Clinical Practice Committee member. In this role:
• review draft CMS regs/surveyor guidelines, offer feedback
• participate in MDS 3.0 and PAC-CARE tool TEPs, offer feedback
• review CMS MDS 3.0 "final draft", offer feedback
• serve as "subject matter expert" to code MDS 2.0 and MDS 3.0 in standard IT terminology
• work with other committee members to foster use of nursing process in all care planning efforts

Lori Griffin, RN
State of Connecticut - Department of Public Health
State RAI Coordinator
Facility Licensing and Inspections Section
Supervising Nurse Consultant

Lori-Ann began her nursing career at New Britain General Hospital where she worked for three years on a medical teaching unit. After three children and eight years of working per diem, she left hospital employment and changed direction completely. Lori became a staff nurse employed at an Agency that provided staff relief to skilled nursing facilities. In 1989, she took the plunge and accepted the position of MDS Coordinator at a 330-bed long term care facility, where she remained for 12 years, until joining the Department of Public Health Facility Licensing and Investigation Section in 2001. Duties at the Department included conducting hospital surveys and complaint investigations. She assumed the position of a Supervising Nurse Consultant and the State RAI Coordinator after three years and currently remains in that position.

Dyanne Black has 25 years of nursing experience, primarily in the Long Term Care Industry, with expertise focused on Wound Care and Infection Control. She has been certified with the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Society since 1999. In 2004, she became certified in Legal Nurse Consulting, when she formed the Connecticut Council for Legal Nurse Consultants, and served as its President for three years. She has worked on several law suits involving wounds and wrongful death suits.

In addition to her private consulting, Ms. Black joined the Connecticut State Health Department in 2005, and currently serves as a Facility Monitor for LTC and Home Care. In this capacity, she has consulted in many Nursing facilities across the state to review their Wound and Infection Control programs, revise systems, and facilate permanent compliance in these areas. She also provides full consultations and guidance to facilities prior to their annual survey to help achieve positive outcomes.

Dyanne is also currently contributing her time and expertise by serving on a sub committee for Qualidigm, Connecticut’s QIO, committed to understanding, evaluating, and improving pressure ulcer communication between all continuums of care.

Facilities are welcome to contact Ms. Black for complete reviews of their Wound Care and Infection Control policies, procedures and compliance.

Marilyn Burlenski, RN, BSN
President, Burlenski Consulting Associates

Marilyn Burlenski, RN, BSN is the President of Burlenski Consulting Associates in Cheshire. She has been a consultant to the long term care industry for over 20 years.

Marilyn has lectured nationally on many topics related to long term care. She is known as an expert in MDS and RUGS coding.

In her consulting practice, Marilyn specializes in quality improvement strategies for facilities. This may include preparation for Medicare audits, clinical record reviews, MDS accuracy audits or operational management overview and improvement.

Marilyn has worked as a clinical consultant to several accounting and consulting firms in Connecticut. She is able to provide collaboration between the financial and the clinical teams in nursing facilities.

Marilyn is currently the President/CEO of the Connecticut Alliance for Long Term Care (CALTC) in Hartford. CALTC is an alliance of not-for-profit nursing homes in Connecticut.

Marilyn brings a wealth of knowledge to the members of SOCOMDS. She is available to answer questions or give simply give guidance to our members. We welcome Marilyn’s knowledge and advice for us.

Would you like to contact one of our experts?

Southern Connecticut Association of MDS Nurse Assessment Coordinators wishes to thank all our consulting advisors for their participation, and pleased to bring to our members the wealth of their expertise.