Master Social Worker - MSW

Fresenius Medical Care • Chicago, IL

9d

About The Position

Provides psychosocial services to patients treated by the facility, including in-center and home dialysis patients when applicable. Works with the healthcare team to promote positive adjustment, rehabilitation, and improved quality of life. In collaboration with the interdisciplinary team, informs, educates, and supports staff in understanding the emotional, psychological, and behavioral impact of Chronic Kidney Disease on patients and families. Supports Fresenius Kidney Care’s Quality Indicators and Outcomes and Quality Assessment and Improvement activities, including patient satisfaction and quality-of-life measures, and participates in process improvement. This is an entry-level MSW role.

The position assesses patients’ psychosocial status, strengths, and needs; participates in care planning; provides counseling, education, and interventions; and helps patients access community resources, rehabilitation, and transplant services. It supports patient education, continuity of care, quality reviews, insurance-related coordination, and staff training. The role documents social work interactions and interventions and follows applicable company policies, state regulations, and scope-of-practice requirements.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Social Work.
• Must hold the state-required license and meet applicable state scope-of-practice board and licensure requirements.
• 0–2 years of related experience.

Responsibilities

• Assess patients’ psychosocial status, strengths, and needs that may affect rehabilitation and treatment outcomes.
• Participate in interdisciplinary care planning with patients and the healthcare team to identify interventions and support treatment, rehabilitation, and quality-of-life goals.
• Use patient education programs, social work methods, interventions, and quality-of-life measurement instruments in assessment and care planning.
• Monitor patients and provide interventions to support adjustment to dialysis and optimal psychosocial status and quality of life.
• Provide supportive counseling within the scope of clinical training and state licensure, and goal-directed education and counseling for patients seeking transplantation.
• Provide information and referrals to community resources, including home health services and vocational rehabilitation; maintain knowledge of local vocational and educational rehabilitation programs.
• Assess patient awareness of advance directives, assist with access to forms and information, 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 by patients and families.
• Follow applicable social work and patient-function policies and document patient and family interactions and interventions.
• Provide psychosocial support and social work interventions addressing non-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; coordinate tailored education with patients, families, and the healthcare team.
• Provide information about treatment modalities, 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 representatives.
• Review admission-related materials and address immediate needs or concerns; support referral, admission, and scheduling processes to promote adherence and adjustment.
• Interview patients requesting discharge to identify causes or concerns and communicate these to operational leadership.
• Coordinate with Insurance Coordinators on patient insurance issues and educate patients about dialysis payment options and assistance programs.
• Notify Insurance Coordinators of patient status changes affecting insurance and refer treatment-billing questions to Patient Billing Solutions.
• Assist with interviewing and hiring decisions when requested by the SW Manager or Senior Manager.
• Work with administrative support staff to maintain current patient resource lists, including transportation resources.
• Provide staff training on psychosocial topics as needed, participate in weekly team huddles, and discuss urgent patient issues with staff.
• Adhere to caseload guidelines based on state regulatory requirements and perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Potential performance-based bonuses, depending on company and individual performance (for bonus-eligible positions)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level