Facility Master Social Worker - MSW

Fresenius Medical Care•Hartsville, SC

About The Position

Provides psychosocial services to in-center and home dialysis patients, as applicable, using social work theory and accepted methods of social work practice. Works with the healthcare team to promote positive adjustment, rehabilitation, and improved quality of life. In collaboration with the interdisciplinary team, educates and supports staff in understanding the emotional, psychological, and behavioral effects of chronic kidney disease on patients and families. Supports quality indicators, quality assessment and improvement activities, patient satisfaction, and quality-of-life goals, and participates in process improvement activities. The role includes supervising and evaluating the clinical work of supervisees, including their counseling practices, assessments, treatment decisions, documentation, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. It also includes assessing patients’ psychosocial status, strengths, and needs; participating in care planning; providing counseling and education within the scope of licensure and training; connecting patients with community resources; and supporting adjustment to dialysis, treatment adherence, rehabilitation, and transplant processes. The Social Worker contributes to quality reviews and patient education, supports admission and continuity-of-care processes, and helps patients and families understand patient rights, treatment options, advance directives, and available financial and insurance resources. The position also provides staff education and support, participates in team huddles, and addresses urgent patient issues with staff. Travel may be required when supporting multiple facilities.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Social Work.
State-specific licensure required.
2–5 years of related experience.

Responsibilities

Supervise counseling and therapy provided by supervisees, including evaluating the scope and quality of their work, assessments, treatment decisions, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Review supervisee records and, when appropriate, observe or review recordings of counseling with the client’s written consent.
Assess patients’ psychosocial status, strengths, and needs as part of comprehensive patient assessment.
Participate in interdisciplinary care planning with patients and the healthcare team to identify interventions and support rehabilitation, treatment goals, and quality of life.
Use patient education programs, social work methods, interventions, and quality-of-life measurement instruments in assessment and care planning.
Monitor and support patients’ adjustment to dialysis and psychosocial well-being through interventions and counseling within the scope of clinical training and state licensure.
Provide educational and goal-directed counseling to patients seeking transplantation and facilitate transplant referrals and waitlist management with the interdisciplinary team.
Connect patients with community resources, including home health services and vocational or educational rehabilitation programs.
Assess awareness of advance directives and assist patients with forms, information, and discussions with the care team and family or support persons.
Participate with physicians and nurses in discussions of patient DNR status to support informed decisions.
Document social work interactions and interventions and follow applicable social work and patient-function policies.
Provide psychosocial support and focused interventions for non-adherence, quality outcomes, and quality-of-life concerns based on patient acuity.
Participate in monthly interdisciplinary quality review meetings and report on adherence, missed or shortened treatments, quality-of-life trends, and service recovery.
Assess patients’ knowledge of kidney disease and barriers to treatment adherence; tailor education to patients’ learning styles, communication barriers, and needs.
Educate patients and families about treatment modalities, ESRD-related psychosocial issues, and available support services.
Review patient rights and responsibilities, grievance procedures, and facility policies with patients or their representatives.
Support patient admission and continuity of care by reviewing required information and addressing immediate needs or concerns.
Interview patients requesting discharge to identify underlying concerns and communicate them to operational leadership.
Liaise with insurance coordinators and provide information about payment and financial assistance options in collaboration with financial coordinators.
Refer patients to the patient billing solutions department for treatment-related billing questions or concerns.
Assist with hiring interviews when requested by the Social Work Manager or Senior Manager.
Work with administrative support staff to keep patient resource lists current.
Provide staff training on psychosocial topics as needed, participate in weekly team huddles, and discuss urgent patient issues with staff.
Follow caseload guidelines based on state regulatory requirements.
Perform other related duties as assigned.