Location & Practice Overview

The position provides psychosocial services to patients receiving dialysis through the Peoria-area Fresenius Kidney Care network, including in-center and home dialysis patients when applicable. The role is based at an outpatient dialysis facility that is part of the broader Fresenius Medical Care renal care system serving the Peoria metropolitan area.

Practice Type Outpatient dialysis facility
Care Setting In-center hemodialysis and home dialysis programs
Geographic Context Peoria, Illinois and surrounding service area
Facility Model Integrated within the Fresenius Kidney Care network

Responsibilities

Patient Assessment & Care Planning

Evaluate each patient’s psychosocial strengths, challenges, and life circumstances that influence how they manage dialysis and overall health. Work with the patient and the care team to shape practical care plans focused on rehabilitation, treatment consistency, and improved daily functioning.

Dialysis Adjustment & Counseling

Offer supportive, goal-directed counseling within the boundaries of clinical training and Illinois licensure. Help patients and families adapt to the ongoing demands of kidney failure treatment, address emotional and behavioral responses, and strengthen coping strategies.

Transplant Support

Educate patients who are interested in transplantation, clarify the referral pathway, and coordinate with the interdisciplinary team so that psychosocial readiness and practical barriers are addressed early in the process.

Community & Financial Resources

Connect patients with community-based services, vocational programs, home health options, and entitlement benefits. Assist with insurance-related questions and continuity-of-care issues that can affect access to treatment and stability outside the clinic.

Quality & Patient Outcomes

Track adherence-related indicators, contribute to monthly quality review discussions, and document all social work interventions. Focus on measurable improvements in treatment consistency and quality of life.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Serve as an active member of the clinic care team, sharing psychosocial insights during care planning and team discussions so that clinical goals remain aligned with the patient’s real-world circumstances.

What This Role Looks Like Day to Day

A typical day for the Master Social Worker centers on direct patient contact and coordinated problem-solving rather than isolated casework.

  • Review current psychosocial needs and emerging barriers for patients on the caseload
  • Meet with dialysis patients during treatment sessions or scheduled visits
  • Coordinate in real time with nurses, physicians, dietitians, and other interdisciplinary staff
  • Follow up on social, financial, transportation, and insurance concerns that affect treatment access
  • Support patients working toward treatment adherence and transplant readiness goals
  • Document interventions clearly and participate in team huddles or quality discussions

Why This Role Matters

Social work is integrated into the dialysis care team rather than operating as a separate referral service. The MSW helps patients navigate the practical and emotional challenges of long-term kidney disease while connecting clinical goals with everyday barriers such as transportation, insurance coverage, finances, family support, and treatment adjustment. In the dialysis setting, psychosocial support directly influences whether patients stay engaged with care, manage lifestyle changes, and maintain quality of life over years of treatment.

Qualifications & Requirements

Candidates need the graduate-level education and state credential required to practice social work in Illinois, along with relevant professional experience in a clinical or healthcare setting.

Education
Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW)
License
Current state-required social work license (Illinois)
Experience
2–5 years of related professional experience
Additional
Ability to work within caseload guidelines set by state regulatory requirements

Compensation & Benefits

Annual compensation is set according to work location, education, experience, and demonstrated competencies. This position is not eligible for performance bonuses.

  • Annual salary range: $56,000 – $94,000
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • 401(k) retirement plan with company match
  • Paid time off
  • Parental leave

Schedule & Work Environment

Employment Type Full-time
Work Setting On-site at the dialysis facility
Travel May be required when covering more than one facility
Supervision No direct supervisory responsibility

Patient Population & Clinical Setting

The social worker supports adults living with chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease who receive ongoing dialysis treatment, along with their families and caregivers.

Primary Population Adults with chronic kidney disease / ESRD
Treatment Modalities In-center hemodialysis and home dialysis (when applicable)
Clinical Context Outpatient dialysis facility
Support Scope Patients, families, and caregivers adjusting to long-term treatment

Clinical Focus & Key Services

The professional core of this position is psychosocial support for people living with kidney failure. The work addresses the emotional, behavioral, and social dimensions of chronic dialysis treatment within a specialized nephrology environment.

Dialysis Adjustment Helping patients adapt to the physical and lifestyle demands of ongoing treatment
Chronic Kidney Disease Psychosocial Care Addressing the long-term emotional and social impact of ESRD
Treatment Adherence Supporting consistency with the prescribed dialysis regimen and related recommendations
Quality-of-Life Support Focusing on functional improvement and daily living goals
Transplant Readiness Education and coordination for patients pursuing transplantation
Family & Caregiver Support Engaging the broader support system around the patient
Insurance & Financial Barriers Navigating coverage and cost-related obstacles to care
Community Resource Coordination Linking patients to practical local and regional supports

What Makes This Role Different

This position places social work inside the daily rhythm of dialysis care rather than treating it as an external consult service.

  • Social work is embedded directly in the dialysis care team and participates in ongoing clinical conversations
  • Patient support extends beyond the treatment chair to financial, insurance, transportation, and community barriers
  • The role includes active transplant-related education and referral coordination
  • Quality-of-life and treatment-adherence outcomes are formal parts of the social work function and quality process

About Fresenius Medical Care

Fresenius Medical Care is a global leader in products and services for people with chronic kidney failure. In North America the organization operates as Fresenius Kidney Care, providing outpatient dialysis services across a large network of facilities. For this position, the relevant part of the organization is the Fresenius Kidney Care network serving the Peoria area, where social work is integrated into the interdisciplinary patient-care process at the facility level.

Organization Type Global kidney care and dialysis services company
Local Focus Fresenius Kidney Care facilities serving Peoria and surrounding communities
Care Model Interdisciplinary teams that include social work as a core function
Headquarters Bad Homburg, Germany (North America operations based in the U.S.)

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of dialysis patients will the MSW support?
The role supports adults receiving dialysis through the facility, including both in-center hemodialysis patients and home dialysis patients when those programs are part of the local service mix.
Does the role involve direct patient counseling?
Yes. The position includes supportive and goal-directed counseling within the scope of the employee’s clinical training and state license.
Will the MSW work with patients on transplant goals?
Yes. Transplant education and referral coordination are part of the social work responsibilities and are carried out in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team.
Is travel between facilities expected?
Travel may be required if the social worker covers more than one facility. The exact amount depends on operational needs in the Peoria area.
What is the expected caseload structure?
The social worker must follow caseload guidelines based on Illinois state regulatory requirements.
Does the role include participation in quality improvement activities?
Yes. The position contributes to quality indicators and outcomes and participates in Quality Assessment and Improvement activities, including monthly review meetings focused on adherence and quality-of-life trends.
Is this position eligible for performance bonuses?
No. The posting identifies this as a non-bonus-eligible position.

Master Social Worker - MSW in Peoria, IL

This full-time Master Social Worker role with Fresenius Medical Care in Peoria places an MSW inside an outpatient dialysis setting that serves adults with chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease. The work combines direct psychosocial assessment and counseling with practical problem-solving around insurance, finances, transportation, and community supports. Because social work is embedded in the care team, the position influences both day-to-day treatment experience and longer-term outcomes such as adherence and transplant readiness. Candidates need an MSW, the state-required Illinois social work license, and two to five years of related experience. Compensation falls in the $56,000–$94,000 range and includes standard health coverage, retirement matching, paid time off, and parental leave. The role is on-site, may involve limited travel between facilities, and offers the chance to practice specialized nephrology social work within an established renal care network serving the Peoria community.

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