Union Social Worker

Fresenius Medical Care • New York City, NY

18h • Onsite

About The Position

Provides psychosocial services to patients treated by the facility, including in-center and home dialysis patients. Works with the health care team to promote positive adjustment, rehabilitation, and improved quality of life. Collaborates with the interdisciplinary team to educate and support staff in understanding the emotional, psychological, and behavioral impact of Chronic Kidney Disease. Supports the company's commitment to quality indicators, outcomes, and quality assessment and improvement activities, actively participating in process improvement to enhance patient quality of life and achieve company goals.

Requirements

• Masters in Social Work
• Must have state required license
• 2 – 5 years’ related experience

Responsibilities

• Assesses patients' psychosocial status, strengths, and areas of need that may affect rehabilitation and optimal treatment outcomes.
• Participates in care planning with the patient and healthcare team to identify interventions for rehabilitation, treatment goals, and quality of life.
• Utilizes patient education programs, social work theory, and methods for assessment and care planning to address barriers and meet patient treatment goals.
• Provides monitoring and interventions for patients to adjust to dialysis and achieve optimal psychosocial status and quality of life.
• Provides supportive counseling services to patients within the scope of clinical training and state license.
• Provides educational and goal-directed counseling to patients seeking transplant.
• Provides information and assists the team and patient with referral to community resources (home health services, vocational rehabilitation, etc.).
• Maintains current knowledge of local vocational/educational rehabilitation programs and assists patients with referral and access.
• Assesses patient awareness of advance directives; assists with accessing forms/information and facilitates discussion of wishes.
• Participates in discussions of patient DNR status with the physician and nurse to ensure informed decisions.
• Documents based on MSW interaction and interventions provided to patient and/or family.
• Provides psychosocial support and/or Social Work Focused Interventions to address non-adherence, quality outcome, and quality of life concerns.
• Participates in monthly Quality review meetings with the interdisciplinary team.
• Reports on quality indicators related to adherence, such as Missed and Shortened Treatments, Quality of Life Trends, and Service Recovery.
• Assesses patient knowledge of kidney disease for barriers affecting treatment adherence.
• Works with patient, family, and health care team to provide education tailored to the patient’s learning style, communication barriers, and needs.
• Provides appropriate information about all treatment modalities with the interdisciplinary team.
• Facilitates the transplant referral process and collaborates with the interdisciplinary team on transplant waitlist management.
• Provides ongoing education to patient/family regarding psychosocial issues related to ESRD and available support services.
• Reviews patient rights and responsibilities, grievance information, and facility policies with patients to ensure understanding.
• Collaborates with the team on appropriate QAI activities.
• Reviews Patient Rights and Responsibilities, Grievance Procedure & Important Numbers Handout, FKC Non-discrimination policy, DNR Statement (if applicable) and addresses immediate needs/concerns.
• Understands the referral and admission process and supports the clinic in regard to patient needs for scheduling to maximize adherence and adjustment.
• Interviews patients to identify root causes or concerns for discharge requests and shares with operational leadership.
• Collaborates and functions as a liaison for patients with Insurance Coordinators to address insurance-related issues.
• Provides information and education to patients about payment to dialysis (federal, state, commercial insurance, state renal programs, AKF HIPP, and entitlement programs).
• Collaborates with the Insurance Coordinator regarding changes to patient state that impact insurance (transplantation, discharge, loss of coverage, or extended travel).
• Refers patients to the patient billing solutions (PBS) department for treatment-related bill inquiries.
• Works with administrative support staff to maintain updated patient resource lists (e.g., transportation resources).
• Provides training to staff pertaining to psychosocial topics as needed.
• Contributes and participates with weekly team huddles.
• Discusses urgent patient issues with staff.
• Adheres to work defined caseload guidelines based on state regulatory requirements.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• The rate of pay for this position will depend on the successful candidate’s work location and qualifications, including relevant education, work experience, skills, and competencies.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees