Master Social Worker - MSW - Part Time

Fresenius Medical Care•Lawrenceville, GA

12d

About The Position

Provides psychosocial services to patients receiving in-center and, where applicable, home dialysis. Applies social work theory and accepted practice methods to support adjustment, rehabilitation, treatment outcomes, and quality of life. Works with the interdisciplinary health care team to help staff understand 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 process improvement. The role assesses patients’ psychosocial needs and strengths, contributes to care planning, provides counseling and education within the scope of clinical training and state licensure, and connects patients with community and rehabilitation resources. It also supports patient education, transplant referrals, advance-care discussions, admission and continuity-of-care processes, and insurance and financial assistance coordination. The Social Worker participates in team and quality meetings, provides staff training as needed, and follows applicable social work policies and documentation requirements.

Requirements

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

Responsibilities

Assess patients’ psychosocial status, strengths, and needs that may affect rehabilitation and treatment outcomes.
Collaborate with patients and the health care team on care plans, interventions, treatment goals, rehabilitation, and quality of life.
Use patient education programs, social work methods, focused interventions, and quality-of-life measures in assessment and care planning.
Monitor and support patients’ adjustment to dialysis and psychosocial well-being.
Provide supportive counseling within the scope of clinical training and state licensure, and goal-directed counseling for patients seeking transplant.
Provide information and referrals to community resources, including home health and vocational or educational rehabilitation services.
Maintain knowledge of local vocational and educational rehabilitation programs and assist patients with referrals and access.
Assess patient awareness of advance directives, provide forms and information, and facilitate discussions with the health care team and family or support persons as appropriate.
With the physician and nurse, participate in discussions of patient DNR status to support informed decisions.
Follow FMCNA social work and patient physical and mental function policies, including documentation; document interactions and interventions with patients and families.
Provide psychosocial support and social work interventions addressing adherence, quality outcomes, and quality-of-life concerns according to patient acuity.
Participate in monthly interdisciplinary quality review meetings and report on adherence indicators, missed or shortened treatments, quality-of-life trends, and service recovery.
Assess patients’ kidney disease knowledge and barriers to treatment adherence; tailor education to learning style, communication barriers, and needs.
Provide information about treatment modalities with the interdisciplinary team, facilitate transplant referrals, and collaborate on transplant waitlist management.
Educate patients and families about psychosocial issues related to ESRD and available support services.
Review patient rights and responsibilities, grievance information, and facility policies with patients or their representatives.
Collaborate with the team on quality assessment and improvement activities.
Review admission materials and address immediate patient needs or concerns.
Support referral, admission, and scheduling processes to address patient needs and promote adherence and adjustment.
Interview patients requesting discharge to identify underlying causes or concerns and share them with operational leadership.
Liaise with insurance coordinators to address patient insurance issues and provide information about dialysis payment and assistance programs.
Inform insurance coordinators of patient status changes that may affect insurance, such as transplantation, discharge, loss of coverage, or extended travel.
Refer patients to the patient billing solutions department for treatment-related billing questions or concerns.
Assist with interviewing and hiring decisions for new personnel if requested by the SW Manager or Senior Manager.
Work with administrative support staff to maintain current patient resource lists, such as transportation resources.
Provide staff training on psychosocial topics as needed and participate in weekly team huddles, raising urgent patient issues.
Follow caseload guidelines based on state regulatory requirements and perform other related duties as assigned.