Meet the New RAI Coordinator: Tara Hawks, RN

Tara Hawks, RN, is the new Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) Coordinator, Case Mix Accuracy Review (CMAR) Unit Manager, and LTC Quality Improvement (QIP) Unit Manager at DSHS.

Tara has been a Case Mix Accuracy Review (CMAR) Nurse since June 2020. Prior to this, she was a Nursing Home Surveyor and Complaint Investigator assigned to the Residential Care Services (RCS) Lakewood office for 10 years.

Tara brings a wealth of experience and knowledge about the RAI Manual and MDS assessment coding. She has helped the CMAR Unit develop forms for the transition to PDPM and troubleshoot issues with the software used by the CMAR Nurses.

Tara is passionate about ensuring vulnerable adults have access to safe, quality care in long-term care settings and is enthusiastic about being able to also lead the LTC QIP program. Tara worked for RCS when the original Quality Assurance Nurse (QAN) program was active and saw the positive impacts of having educational, non-punitive consultations on facilities and resident care. Tara strongly believes in having a pro-active approach to long-term care and supports. She actively works to foster positive relationships between RCS and providers to ensure the best possible resident/client outcomes, which will be a wonderful asset to her new role!

Tara has been heard many times on the free MDS training webinars, which will continue to be offered in 2024.  She has also been a contributor for questions on the [email protected].

On behalf of WHCA, we would like to thank Donna Zaglin and congratulate her on her retirement. We wish her the best of luck in her new adventures.