Description Provide your personal attention and kindness, professional
insight, and a generosity of spirit. Offer expertise and encouragement.
Enhance each patient’s future—as well as your own. Connect with your goals and
change lives with Fresenius Medical Care North America. Here, we make
connections that empower patients, their families, and our team members. As
the global leader in dialysis healthcare, we form bonds that enable the best
possible outcomes and professional satisfaction. While our extensive
organization continues to grow, so do opportunities for our professionals to
learn, grow, and advance. Why Join the Fresenius Team? Passion. Dedication.
Knowledge. Motivation. Experience. These are the impressive qualities you’ll
find in the Fresenius Leadership Team. Our strength in the North American
market and extensive global network provide our employees with the best of
both worlds—the friendliness of a local organization and the stability of a
worldwide organization—for diverse experiences and challenging career
opportunities. When you join the Fresenius Medical Care team, you’ll be
welcomed into a company that is built on the philosophy that our employees are
our most important asset. Our career advantages include the following:
Fresenius Medical Care is the nation’s largest provider of renal care, meeting
the needs of more than 135,000 patients at 1,800 clinics throughout the
country. Our well-established, trusted organization fosters a spirit of
camaraderie, emphasizing friendly collaboration, professional support, and
career development. Superior training, UltraCare ® quality control, and
certification procedures ensure your potential to succeed and advance as a
professional. Competitive compensation and exceptional benefits. Outstanding
tuition reimbursement program. Recognized among Fortune’s World’s Most
Admired Companies” in 2011. National Safety Award from CNA insurance companies
for 11 consecutive years. Opportunities to give back by participating in
philanthropy and community outreach programs. Social Worker Make the most of
this exceptional opportunity to help others with a leader in the healthcare
industry. Following the Social Work Theory of Human Behavior and accepted
methods of practice, the professional we select will provide psychosocial
services and counseling to in-center and home dialysis patients. Working with
patients, families, and our multidisciplinary team, this individual will
assess psychosocial status, strengths and areas of need, and promote positive
adjustment and rehabilitation to improve the quality of life. PURPOSE AND
SCOPE: Supports FMCNA’s mission, vision, core values and customer service
philosophy. Adheres to the FMCNA Compliance Program, including following all
regulatory and FMS policy requirements. Provides psychosocial services to
patients treated by the facility including in-center and home dialysis
patients (if applicable) utilizing Social Work Theory of Human Behavior and
accepted methods of social work practice. Works with the health care team to
promote positive adjustment, rehabilitation and improved quality of life for
our patients. In collaboration with the multidisciplinary team, informs,
trains and supports staff in understanding the emotional, psychological and
behavioral impact of Chronic Kidney Disease on the patient and family to
ensure comprehensive quality care of our patients. Supports the FMCNA
commitment to the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Quality Assessment and
Improvement (QAI) Activities, including those related to patient satisfaction
and quality of life and actively participates in process improvement
activities that enhance the likelihood that patients will achieve the FMCNA
QEP Goals (QEP). Adheres to all requirements of the FMCNA Compliance Program,
and all FMS policy requirements. DUTIES / ACTIVITIES : CUSTOMER SERVICE:
Responsible for driving the FMS culture through values and customer service
standards. Accountable for outstanding customer service to all external and
internal customers. Develops and maintains effective relationships through
effective and timely communication. Takes initiative and action to respond,
resolve and follow up regarding customer service issues with all customers in
a timely manner. PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES PATIENT CARE: Patient
Assessment/Care Planning/ Counseling: As a member of the multidisciplinary
team, assesses patients’ psychosocial status, strengths and areas of need that
may affect rehabilitation and optimal treatment outcomes as part of the
comprehensive patient assessment. Participates in care planning in
collaboration with the patient and healthcare team to identify effective
interventions that will help the patient meet rehabilitation and treatment
goals, improve quality of life. Utilizes FMS UltraCare patient education
programs, established social work theory and methods and quality of life
measurement instruments as part of assessment and care planning to resolve
barriers and meet patient treatment goals. Provides established outcomes
driven psycho-educational counseling methods aimed at improving areas of need,
treatment adherence, vocational/educational rehabilitation and/or quality of
life. Provides supportive and goal directed counseling to patients who are
seeking transplant. Assesses patient awareness of advance directives; assists
with accessing advance directive forms/information and facilitates discussion
of advance directive wishes, if necessary, with the healthcare team and the
patient’s family/support persons. In collaboration with the physician and
nurse, facilitates the discussion of patient DNR status in the facility to
ensure patient understanding and informed decision making. Provides
information and assists the team and patient with referral to community
resources (home health services, vocational rehabilitation, etc.) to
facilitate optimal treatment outcomes. Patient Education: Assesses patient
knowledge of kidney disease for barriers that may affect adherence to
treatment. Works with patient, family and health care team to provide
education tailored to the patient’s learning style and needs. With other
members of the interdisciplinary team and TOP (Treatment Options Program),
provides appropriate information about all treatment modalities. Within the
social work scope of practice, collaborates with the interdisciplinary team
and transplant center to refer and track patient transplant referrals.
Provides ongoing education to patient/family regarding psychosocial issues
related to End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) and all support services that are
available. Reviews patient rights and responsibilities, grievance information
(company and network) and other facility policies with patient and/or the
patients’ representative to ensure patients’ understanding of their rights and
expectations of them. Collaborates with the team on appropriate QAI
activities. Patient Admission: Understands the referral and admission process
and works with Central Local Intake Process (CLIP) office staff, the Clinical
Manager and facility team regarding patient needs for scheduling to maximize
adherence and adjustment. Collaborates with facility team to ensure that all
required admission documentation is prepared and forwarded to the Billing
Department for processing. Insurance and Financial Assistance: Collaborates
with facility management, Financial Coordinators and Billing Group staff to
address patient issues related to insurance. Provides information and
education to patients about payment for dialysis services (federal, state,
commercial insurance, state renal programs, AKF HIPP and entitlement
programs). Maintains current knowledge regarding local vocational/educational
rehabilitation programs and assists patients with referral and access to
vocational rehabilitation to enable them to remain employed, become employed
or receive education. Completes Medicare Secondary Payor Questionnaire (MSPQ)
with patients upon admission. Reassesses patient demographic and insurance
information changes every quarter. Notifies all appropriate departments of
changes. Understands FMCNA financial policies and procedures as they relate to
patient services. Educates patients about programs that may be available to
assist with uncovered services, how to resolve billing concerns, and
understand their financial responsibilities. STAFF RELATED: Assists with the
interview process and decision to hire new personnel if requested by CM or AM.
Provides oversight to administrative support staff delegated by CM to assist
the MSW with patient concrete needs (e.g. maintain updated list of
transportation resources, ensure understanding transient arrangement procedure
for patients who travel). Develops and provides training to staff pertaining
to psychosocial topics as needed. Trains staff in UltraCare Programs as
needed. OTHER: Collaborates with renal team to ensure environmental integrity
and aesthetics are maintained and that all work areas are safe and clean.
Actively participates in ongoing education opportunities and shares relevant
information with the renal team to enhance team skill in working with ESRD
patients. Provides training to outside agencies as appropriate. Other duties
as assigned. PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS: The physical demands and
work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an
employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities
to perform the essential functions. Day to day work includes desk and personal
computer work and interaction with patients, facility staff and physicians.The
position requires travel between assigned facilities and various locations
within the community.Travel to regional, Business Unit and Corporate meetings
may be required. The work environment is characteristic of a health care
facility with air temperature control and moderate noise levels. May be
exposed to infectious and contagious diseases/materials. EDUCATION Master's
Degree in Social Work with a concentration in clinical practice from a school
of Social Work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
Current state licensure or appropriate certification/registration by the state
if required in order to practice social work or be called a Social Worker.
EXPERIENCE AND REQUIRED SKILLS: Experience with renal patients or other
physically ill population preferred. Demonstrated leadership competencies and
skills for the position, including: Excellent communication skills – verbal
and written, Excellent customer service, Practices continuous quality
improvement, Good relationship development skills, Results oriented, Team
building skills and Sound decision making.