Master Social Worker - MSW

Fresenius Medical Care • East Peoria, IL

4d • $50,000 - $85,000

About The Position

The Master Social Worker provides psychosocial services to patients treated by the facility, including in-center and home dialysis patients where applicable. Using social work theory and accepted methods of practice, the role supports patients’ adjustment, rehabilitation, treatment outcomes, and quality of life. The social worker 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, and contributes to quality indicators, quality assessment and improvement activities, patient satisfaction, and process improvement. This is an entry-level MSW role.

The position assesses patients’ psychosocial status, strengths, needs, and barriers; contributes to care planning and counseling; connects patients with community, vocational, educational, insurance, and financial resources; and provides education related to kidney disease, treatment options, transplant, patient rights, and psychosocial support. It also supports patient admission and continuity of care, participates in quality reviews and team activities, documents interventions, and provides staff education as needed. Travel may be required for multiple facilities or home visits, if applicable.

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.
• Collaborate with patients and the interdisciplinary health care team on care planning and interventions to support treatment goals and quality of life.
• Use patient education programs, social work methods, interventions, and quality-of-life measures to address barriers to treatment goals.
• Monitor patients’ adjustment to dialysis and provide psychosocial interventions and supportive counseling within the scope of clinical training and state licensure.
• Provide goal-directed education and counseling to patients seeking transplant; facilitate transplant referrals and collaborate on waitlist management.
• Refer patients to community resources, including home health and vocational or educational rehabilitation services.
• Assess awareness of advance directives, provide access to information and forms, and facilitate discussions with patients, families, and the health care team as needed.
• Participate with physicians and nurses in discussions of patient DNR status to support informed decisions.
• Document social work interactions and interventions and adhere to applicable social work and patient-function policies.
• Provide psychosocial support and focused interventions addressing non-adherence, quality outcomes, and quality-of-life concerns.
• Participate in monthly interdisciplinary quality review meetings and report on adherence, missed or shortened treatments, quality-of-life trends, and service recovery.
• Assess patients’ kidney disease knowledge and tailor education to their learning styles, communication barriers, and needs.
• Provide information about treatment modalities, 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 interdisciplinary team on quality assessment and improvement activities.
• Review admission materials and address immediate needs or concerns; support the referral and admission process and scheduling to promote adherence and adjustment.
• Interview patients requesting discharge to identify concerns and share them with operational leadership.
• Liaise with insurance coordinators and educate patients about dialysis payment and coverage resources; communicate relevant changes in patient status affecting insurance.
• Refer patients to the Patient Billing Solutions department for treatment-billing questions or concerns.
• Assist with interviews and hiring decisions for personnel if 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.
• 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.

What This Job Offers

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