Kidney Care Specialist

Fresenius Medical Care•Knoxville, TN

About The Position

The Kidney Care Specialist (KCS) supports patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) through early education, care navigation, and ongoing engagement. The role combines field-based physician and community outreach with virtual patient support, helping patients move from diagnosis toward informed treatment choices and receive consistent education across the kidney care continuum. Work may be field-based, virtual, or hybrid depending on market needs. The KCS provides education about kidney disease progression, treatment options—including home modalities and transplantation—and self-management strategies. The role works closely with nephrology providers, care teams, internal stakeholders, and referring practices to coordinate care, support referrals, identify barriers, and connect patients with resources. The specialist documents interactions and outcomes, tracks engagement and program performance, and contributes to the improvement of virtual education materials and workflows while following applicable regulatory, privacy, and documentation standards. There are no direct supervisory responsibilities. The role works under the guidance of Kidney Care leadership and in close collaboration with clinical and operational teams. Field-based work may involve extensive local or regional travel to physician groups, healthcare locations, regional business units, corporate meetings, and training. Occasional evening and weekend work may be needed. The position involves prolonged sitting and computer use; reasonable accommodations may be made for essential functions.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
Minimum 1–3 years of experience in kidney care, chronic disease management, or related healthcare fields.
Strong communication skills, including the ability to explain complex clinical concepts in clear, patient-friendly language.
Ability to engage patients remotely and build trust in a virtual environment.
Strong organizational and time-management skills and ability to manage a virtual caseload.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills.
Comfort with digital platforms, virtual meeting tools, and data-driven workflows.
Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and ability to travel within the assigned market.
Ability to work autonomously and collaboratively as part of a team.

Nice To Haves

Clinical background, preferably 3–5 years.
Relevant licensure or certification, as applicable.
Experience working with CKD, ESRD, dialysis, or chronic disease populations.
Prior experience delivering virtual or telephonic patient education is strongly preferred.
Experience with CRM systems such as Salesforce and/or electronic medical records.

Responsibilities

Provide virtual care navigation to CKD and ESRD patients, covering disease progression, treatment options, home modalities, transplantation, and self-management strategies through approved digital platforms.
Conduct scheduled and on-demand virtual or in-person interactions by video, phone, and electronic communication to assess patient needs, readiness, barriers, and preferences.
Collaborate with nephrologists, advanced practice providers, care teams, and internal partners to coordinate patient care and appropriate referrals.
Build and maintain working relationships with nephrologists, advanced practice providers, clinical managers, care coordinators, and practice staff in support of Kidney Care Advocate and value-based care objectives.
Partner with internal stakeholders to support consistent messaging, coordinated workflows, and patient follow-through.
Provide referring practices with timely communication, education updates, and patient status as appropriate.
Document patient interactions, education, and outcomes accurately and promptly in designated systems, such as Salesforce or an EMR.
Support referral workflows by ensuring patients are educated, tracked, and followed through the kidney care continuum.
Use virtual tools, dashboards, and reports to track engagement, outcomes, and program performance, escalating concerns as appropriate.
Participate in developing, evaluating, and improving virtual education materials, documentation, and on-demand content.
Maintain current knowledge of kidney disease, treatment modalities, and Fresenius Kidney Care programs to provide consistent, compliant education.
Identify social, logistical, and educational barriers to care and connect patients with appropriate internal or external resources.
Follow regulatory, privacy, documentation, quality, safety, and compliance standards.
Participate in team meetings, training sessions, and performance reviews as required.
Support patients longitudinally by reinforcing education and navigating next steps in collaboration with the care team.
Travel within the assigned market and to regional business units, corporate meetings, and on-site training as required.
Perform other related duties as assigned.