Master Social Worker - MSW

Fresenius Medical Care•Broussard, LA

About The Position

Provides psychosocial services to in-center and home dialysis patients, as applicable, using social work theory and accepted methods of social work practice. Works with the healthcare team to promote patients’ adjustment, rehabilitation, and quality of life. Collaborates with the interdisciplinary team to help staff understand the emotional, psychological, and behavioral effects of chronic kidney disease on patients and families. Supports the company’s quality indicators, outcomes, quality assessment and improvement activities, patient satisfaction, and quality-of-life goals.

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 interdisciplinary healthcare team on care plans, interventions, rehabilitation goals, treatment goals, and quality-of-life improvements.
Use patient education programs, social work methods and 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.
Connect patients with community resources, including home health services and vocational or educational rehabilitation programs.
Assess patient awareness of advance directives and assist with information, forms, and discussions with the healthcare team and family or support persons.
Participate with the physician and nurse in discussions of patient DNR status to support informed decisions by patients and families.
Follow social work and patient-function policies, including documentation of interactions and interventions.
Provide psychosocial support and social work interventions addressing non-adherence, quality outcomes, and quality-of-life concerns.
Attend 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, and tailor education to patients’ learning styles, communication barriers, and needs.
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 their representatives.
Review admission materials and address immediate needs or concerns; support referral, admission, scheduling, and continuity-of-care processes.
Interview patients requesting discharge to identify underlying concerns and share them with operational leadership.
Collaborate with insurance coordinators on coverage issues, patient education about payment options and assistance programs, and changes in patient status affecting insurance.
Refer patients to the patient billing solutions department for treatment-billing questions or concerns.
Assist with hiring interviews and decisions when requested by the Social Work Manager or Senior Manager.
Work with administrative support staff to keep patient resource lists current.
Train staff on psychosocial topics as needed, participate in weekly team huddles, and discuss urgent patient issues with staff.
Follow caseload guidelines based on state regulatory requirements and perform other related duties as assigned.