Student Social Work Clinical Placement

Purpose and Scope

The student intern supports FMCNA's mission, vision, core values and customer service philosophy and functions as part of the hemodialysis health care team, providing safe and effective dialysis therapy for patients under the direct supervision of a licensed social worker.

Duties and Activities

• Promotes students' identification with the purposes, values and ethics of the profession and integration of empirical and practice-based knowledge.
• Completes a minimum number of required field education hours established by the CSWE.
• Drives the FMS culture through values and customer service standards.
• Develops and maintains effective relationships through effective and timely communication.
• Responds to, resolves, and follows up on customer service issues in a timely manner.

Patient Assessment, Care Planning and Counseling

• Assesses patients' psychosocial status, strengths and areas of need as part of the comprehensive patient assessment.
• Participates in care planning with the patient and healthcare team to identify interventions that support rehabilitation, treatment goals, and quality of life.
• Utilizes FMS Ultra Care patient education programs, social work theory and methods, and quality of life measurement instruments.
• Provides outcomes-driven psycho-educational counseling to improve areas of need, treatment adherence, vocational/educational rehabilitation and/or quality of life.
• Provides supportive and goal-directed counseling to patients seeking transplant.
• Assesses patient awareness of advance directives and facilitates discussion of advance directive wishes with the healthcare team and family/support persons.
• Provides general information about Do Not Resuscitate Orders and Advanced Directives.
• Assists the team and patient with referral to community resources such as home health services and vocational rehabilitation.
• Provides usual care and/or Social Work Intensive to address non-adherence and quality of life concerns.
• Adheres to FMCNA Social Work Policy, including documentation.

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.
• Provides appropriate information about all treatment modalities with the interdisciplinary team.
• Facilitates the transplant referral process and collaborates with the interdisciplinary team if delegated by the Clinical Manager.
• Provides ongoing education to patient/family regarding psychosocial issues related to End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) and available support services.
• Reviews patient rights and responsibilities, grievance information, and facility policies with the patient and/or representative.
• Collaborates with the team on appropriate QAI activities.

Insurance and Financial Assistance

• Maintains current knowledge regarding local vocational/educational rehabilitation programs and assists patients with referral and access.
• Understands FMCNA financial policies and procedures related to patient services.
• Collaborates with Financial Coordinators to educate patients about programs that may assist with uncovered services, billing concerns, and financial responsibilities.

Staff Related

• Works with administrative support staff to maintain updated patient resource lists such as transportation resources.
• Develops and provides training to staff pertaining to psychosocial topics as needed.
• Trains staff in Ultra Care Programs as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

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 and may involve exposure to infectious and contagious diseases/materials.

Education and Skills

High School diploma or G.E.D. required. Preferred outstanding customer service to all external and internal customers. Possess the desire to deliver superior care to patients and embrace Fresenius' mission and values.

Relationships and Supervision

The Intern cannot work under the supervision of a family member and cannot care for a patient who is a family member. The Clinical Manager assigns and closely monitors all SW Intern assignments with direct supervision from a SWFI based on the agreed education plan.