Objective & Overview:
Looking for a patient-focused, hardworking, detail oriented and motivated Dialysis Master of Social Worker (MSW) to serve our dialysis patients consistent with our mission to deliver patient wellbeing through accessible, effective and delightful care. The objective for the position is someone that is aligned with our vision to make Carmen the best [kidney] HEALTH company in the world by providing " peace of mind" to our patients and "anywhere, anytime" availability. The MSW will always work within our operating guideline of SERÉ: ensuring patient Safety, providing a delightful Experience, achieving the best clinical Results with exceptional Economy and efficiency. We are looking for a person that can work well with others across the entire healthcare operation, including nurses, technicians, doctors, dietitians, and all support functions.
Company Description:
Established in 2021, Carmen [kidney] HEALTH has the mission to help individuals live happier, healthier and more productive no matter their [kidney] function and a vision to become the best healthcare company in the world. Carmen is unique in providing access to free kidney screenings, has a multidisciplinary approach to help people with chronic kidney disease, and offers state of the art in-center and at home dialysis therapies.
Headquartered in San Antonio, Carmen currently has a clinic in Floresville, Texas with locations opening in rural and underserved areas around the San Antonio and Austin metros opening in 2023. The company’s plan is to have clinics across the nation to provide patient choice and convenience particularly along with a digital presence to be available “anywhere, anytime.”
Carmen builds on more than a decade of experience providing patient wellbeing from Médica Santa Carmen (MSC) in Mexico. From its founding in 2011, MSC is today the preeminent network of kidney centers providing over 1,300 dialysis therapies per day and locations inside the Mayo Clinic affiliate and American-British hospitals. Part of MSC’s success comes from its “low cost/high quality” model which is enabled by technology, process and systems engineering to scale and its amazing people and culture to make the difference in each patient’s life.
Essential Responsibilities for all Carmen team members “Carmen Lights”
- Mission, Vision, and Values Alignment: Ensure adherence to Carmen HEALTH's “MiViVa”, SERÉ, TAILÚ principles and company, clinic, and team objectives and goals. Embrace the “patient’s well” mentality, knowing and showing the “Carmen Way” making a difference to transform[kidney] HEALTH and achieve our vision.
- Resource Stewardship: Manage resources prudently, including materials, infrastructure, and capital, to support Carmen HEALTH's operational needs and goals.and implement the work model of Carmen HEALTH, integrating PDCA, 5S and Lean methodologies for efficiency and effectiveness, striving to be better everyday, as an individual of integrity and team-player.
- Compliance with Quality and Safety Standards: Adhere to our “Home Base” Quality Management System, International Patient Safety Goals (IPSG), patient care standards, ensuring all activities are in congruence with the “Carmen Way” and in compliance with relevant regulations and standards.
- Team Leadership and Development: Operate as a leader, with motivation and provide opportunities for development and recognition starting with a “learn-it all” mentality and servant leadership approach. Foster a supportive and growth-oriented environment.
- Collaborative Improvement Initiatives: Actively participate in and contribute to improvement activities in collaboration with branch, clinical, and corporate teams, driving organizational improvement at Carmen HEALTH.
- Adaptability and Versatility in Role: Execute assigned responsibilities with diligence, support other team members as needed, and take on additional tasks to ensure smooth operations.
- Professional Commitment: Exhibit consistent punctuality, attendance, and a deep commitment to professional responsibilities, aligning with Carmen’s organizational goals.
Key Job Responsibilities
- Psychosocial Assessment: Conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments of all patients to identify their emotional, social, and financial needs, as well as their support systems and coping mechanisms, including the health-related quality of life surveys. Provide an ongoing assessment and recommend changes in treatment based on the patient’s current psychosocial needs.
- Counseling and Support: Initiate social work interventions including individual and group counseling to patients and their families to address emotional distress, adjustment issues, and coping strategies related to living with chronic kidney disease and undergoing hemodialysis treatment.
- Biopsychosocial Metrics Outliers and Intervention: Use of the single-subject research design methodology to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions or treatments for individual clients. Measure all possible aspects of a person’s health, well-being, and functioning across biological, psychological, and social domains. Address biopsychosocial metric outliers by conducting comprehensive assessments, developing individualized intervention plans, and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams and community resources to provide holistic support and advocacy.
- Care and Treatment Planning Coordination: Collaborate with the healthcare team to develop individualized care plans that address patients’ psychosocial needs, preferences, and goals, and coordinate care with other healthcare and community resources. Participates in the interdisciplinary team review of a patient’s progress.
- Resource Referral and Advocacy: Identify and facilitate access to support services and community resources, such as financial assistance programs, transportation services, housing assistance, and mental health services, and advocate for patients’ rights and needs within the healthcare system. And assist patients and families to utilize them.
- Advance Care Planning: Assist patients in advanced care planning discussions, including end-of-life care preferences, durable power of attorney for healthcare decisions, and goals of care discussions, in alignment with patients’ values and preferences.
- Patient Education and Rehabilitation Referral: Provide education to patients and their families on topics such as medication management, dietary restrictions, self-care techniques, and lifestyle modifications to promote optimal health and well-being. Assist patients to achieve optimum levels of productive activity and make rehabilitation referrals as appropriate.
- Crisis Intervention: Provide crisis intervention and support during emergencies or critical incidents, such as hospitalizations, complications of treatment, or bereavement, and offering emotional support and practical assistance to patients and families.
- Documentation and Advocacy: Maintain accurate and confidential documentation of social work assessments, interventions, and patient progress in electronic health records, and advocate for patients’ needs and interests within the interdisciplinary team.
- Community Outreach and Education: Engage in community outreach activities and educational initiatives to raise awareness about chronic kidney disease, prevention strategies, and available support services within the community.
- Policy & Process Adherence & Regulatory Compliance: Embody the ‘Carmen Way’, prioritizing patient wellbeing and promoting a safe, ethical care environment. Ensure compliance with CMS, NDAC, HHS, and Carmen standards, as well as other relevant regulations. Maintain documentation standards and adhere to best practices and international patient safety measures with HOME Base and Carmen’s EMR & systems as main tools.
- Quality Assurance & Continuous Improvement: Participate in QAPI and quality assurance efforts, focusing on enhancing psychosocial support services and improving patient outcomes and satisfaction. Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams for overall care quality improvement, and participate in clinical committees, contributing to policy and process improvements.
Sample Duties:
Understanding that “Job 1 = patient’s well, all is swell”, that essential job duties are to fulfill Carmen’s MiViVa, company objectives and clinic goals, satisfy the essential and key job responsibilities, and that no job description could ever list all duties, sample duties include:
- Assess patient’s financial, medical, social, and familial needs
- Meet patient’s needs through direct supportive counseling or referrals to other agencies
- Recommend changes in treatment based on the patient’s current psychosocial needs
- Provide case work and group work services to patients and their families and refer him/her to other agencies for resources as necessary
- Have weekly check-in with the patients as a less formal assessment
- Participate in team review of patient progress; complete care plans on patients
- Participate in continual quality improvement activities and attend monthly Quality Assurance Performance Improvement (QAPI) meetings
- Complete psychosocial updates annually or more often as needed
- Discuss advance directives with patient/family members
- Help the patient with psychological adjustment and provide support
- Offer patient counseling
- Discuss and assess for vocational services
- Document each case in medical charts
- Provide pre-transplant counseling for patients and family members and make arrangements with the transplant center
- Participate in and/or lead staff in-services regarding to patient sensitivity issues and communication
- Complete required surveys or information required by the ESRD Network (i.e.: CrownWeb)
- Advocacy on patients’ behalf with appropriate local, state and federal agencies
- Provide patient and family education
- Complete monthly reports, i.e. patient census, Medicaid transportation list, individual provider list, and ESRD-patient activity report
- Coordinate transient patient arrangements
- Arrange transportation services
- Provide new and updated patient insurance information to business office
- Target patients with increased needs, i.e. elderly, disabled, illiterate, and socio-economically disadvantaged patients
- Develops, edits and reviews company policies and procedures
- Complies with HIPAA regulations
- Report all incidents, complaints, or problems to Facility Administrator in a timely manner
Qualifications:
- Educational Background and Licensure: Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW) from a school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education; be licensed as a social worker under the .
- Clinical Experience: Minimum of 1 year of clinical experience in a healthcare setting, preferably with experience in nephrology or renal care, is highly desirable. Experience in providing counseling, psychosocial assessments, and crisis intervention is valuable.
- Knowledge of Renal Care: Familiarity with the unique challenges and psychosocial aspects of chronic kidney disease and hemodialysis treatment is essential. Knowledge of renal nutrition, dialysis procedures, and related medical terminology is advantageous.
- Strong Communication Skills: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills are crucial for building rapport with patients, families, and members of the healthcare team. Social workers must be able to effectively communicate complex information and provide emotional support to patients and families.
- Empathy and Compassion: Compassion, empathy, and a non judgemental attitude are essential qualities for social workers in healthcare settings. They must be able understand and empathize with the challenges faced by patients and families coping with chronic illness.
- Crisis Intervention Skills: Ability to provide crisis intervention and support to patients and families during times of emotional distress, medical emergencies, or critical incidents.
- Cultural Competence: Cultural competence and sensitivity to diversity are important for effectively working with patients from diverse cultural backgrounds and addressing their unique needs and preferences.
- Teamwork and Collaboration: Strong teamwork and collaboration skills are necessary for working effectively as part of an interdisciplinary healthcare team.
- Documentation Skills: Strong documentation and record-keeping skills, ensuring accurate and thorough documentation of patients' assessments and interventions in electronic health records.
Working Conditions:
- Clinics located in retail shopping areas, focusing on underserved and rural communities in San Antonio surroundings.
- Emphasis on creating an accessible, effective, and delightful healthcare experience.
- Occasional travel to other clinics, external storage facilities, doctor’s offices, hospitals, nursing homes, and other referring organizations.
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
- Day shift
- Weekends as needed
Experience:
- Dialysis: 1 year (Required)
- working in the healthcare field: 1 year (Preferred)
Language:
License/Certification:
- Masters in Social Work (Required)
Work Location: In person