Master Social Worker - MSW

Fresenius Medical Care•Sun Prairie, WI

20h

About The Position

This is an entry-level Master Social Worker role providing psychosocial services to patients treated by the facility, including in-center and home dialysis patients when applicable. The social worker applies social work theory and accepted practice methods to support patients’ adjustment, rehabilitation, treatment outcomes, and quality of life. In collaboration with the interdisciplinary healthcare team, the role also informs, educates, and supports staff about the emotional, psychological, and behavioral effects of chronic kidney disease on patients and families. The position supports Fresenius Kidney Care’s quality indicators and outcomes, quality assessment and improvement activities, patient satisfaction, and quality-of-life goals. It conducts psychosocial assessment, care planning, counseling, patient education, referrals, and continuity-of-care support; documents services and interventions; participates in quality reviews and improvement activities; and coordinates with staff on patient needs, insurance matters, and available resources. The role has no supervisory responsibilities. Travel may be required for multiple facilities or home visits, if applicable.

Requirements

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

Responsibilities

Assess patients’ psychosocial status, strengths, and needs that may affect rehabilitation and treatment outcomes as part of comprehensive patient assessment.
Participate in care planning with patients and the healthcare team to identify interventions that support rehabilitation, treatment goals, and quality of life.
Use patient education programs, social work methods and interventions, and quality-of-life measurement instruments to address barriers and treatment goals.
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 provide education and goal-directed counseling to patients seeking transplant.
Inform patients and the care team about community resources and support referrals, including home health and vocational rehabilitation.
Maintain knowledge of local vocational and educational rehabilitation programs and assist patients with referrals and access.
Assess patient awareness of advance directives and assist with information, forms, and discussions 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, including documentation requirements, and document interactions and interventions provided to patients or families.
Provide psychosocial support and social work interventions for non-adherence, quality outcomes, and quality-of-life concerns based on patient acuity.
Participate in monthly interdisciplinary quality review meetings and report on adherence and other quality indicators, quality-of-life trends, and service recovery.
Assess patients’ kidney disease knowledge and barriers to treatment adherence; tailor education to patients’ learning styles, 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 representatives.
Collaborate with the team on quality assessment and improvement activities.
At admission, review patient rights and responsibilities, grievance procedures and important numbers, the non-discrimination policy, and DNR statement when applicable; address immediate concerns.
Support referral and admission processes and clinic scheduling in response to patient needs and to promote adherence and adjustment.
Interview patients requesting discharge to identify underlying concerns and share them with operational leadership.
Liaise with insurance coordinators regarding patient insurance issues; provide information and education about dialysis payment programs and coverage options.
Notify insurance coordinators of patient-status changes that affect insurance, and refer treatment-bill questions or concerns to Patient Billing Solutions.
Assist with interviewing and hiring decisions for new personnel 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, discussing urgent patient issues.
Adhere to caseload guidelines based on state regulatory requirements.
Perform other related duties as assigned.