Master Social Worker - MSW

Fresenius Medical Care•Sacramento, CA

6d•$71,000 - $96,000

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 promote positive adjustment, rehabilitation, and improved quality of life. Works with the healthcare team to help staff understand the emotional, psychological, and behavioral effects of chronic kidney disease on patients and families, and supports quality indicators, outcomes, patient satisfaction, quality of life, and process-improvement activities. This is an entry-level MSW role. The Social Worker 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. The role also supports patient education and continuity of care, assists with insurance and financial-resource questions, contributes to staff training and team activities, and documents services and interventions. Travel may be required when supporting multiple facilities.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Social Work.
Must have a state temporary license, Registered Social Worker Clinical Intern credential, associated social work license, or provisional LCSW license if required by the state.
Obtain the state licensure required to work independently without supervision within the first two years or as required by state guidelines.
0–2 years of related experience.

Responsibilities

Assess patients’ psychosocial status, strengths, and needs as part of comprehensive patient assessment.
Collaborate with patients and the healthcare team on care plans and interventions to support rehabilitation, treatment goals, and quality of life.
Use patient education programs, social work methods and interventions, and quality-of-life measures to address barriers to treatment goals.
Monitor and support patients’ adjustment to dialysis and psychosocial status.
Provide supportive counseling within the scope of clinical training and state license, and provide goal-directed counseling to patients seeking transplant.
Refer patients to community resources, including home health services and vocational rehabilitation, and help them access education or employment-related rehabilitation programs.
Assess patient awareness of advance directives, help patients access information and forms, and facilitate discussions with the healthcare team and family or support persons as needed.
Participate with the physician and nurse in discussions of patient DNR status to support informed decisions.
Follow applicable social work and patient-function policies, including documentation requirements; document interactions and interventions with patients and families.
Provide psychosocial support and focused interventions addressing non-adherence, quality outcomes, and quality-of-life concerns based on acuity.
Attend monthly interdisciplinary quality-review meetings and report on indicators such as missed or shortened treatments, quality-of-life trends, and service recovery.
Assess patients’ kidney-disease knowledge and barriers to adherence, and coordinate education tailored to learning style, communication barriers, and needs.
Provide information about treatment modalities and support transplant referrals and waitlist management with the interdisciplinary team.
Educate patients and families about psychosocial issues related to ESRD and available support services.
Review patient rights, responsibilities, grievance information, and facility policies with patients or their representatives.
Collaborate with the team on quality assessment and improvement activities.
At admission, review applicable patient rights, grievance, non-discrimination, and DNR materials and address immediate needs or concerns.
Support the referral and admission process, including scheduling needs that may affect adherence and adjustment.
Interview patients requesting discharge to identify concerns or causes and share them with operational leadership.
Liaise with Insurance Coordinators on patient insurance issues and provide information about dialysis payment sources and assistance programs.
Notify the Insurance Coordinator of patient-status changes that may affect insurance, and refer billing questions to the Patient Billing Solutions department.
Assist with hiring interviews and decisions when requested by the Social Work Manager or Senior Manager.
Work with administrative support staff to maintain current patient resource lists.
Provide staff training on psychosocial topics as needed and participate in weekly team huddles, raising urgent patient issues.
Follow caseload guidelines based on state regulations and work under appropriate supervision where required.
Perform other related duties as assigned.