Services
Mercy Dialysis Center
Nutrition & Social Services
Social Services
Nephrology social workers are experienced medical social workers who have the interest and experience in helping dialysis patients, family members, and other supportive individuals deal with a multitude of problems associated with being on dialysis. Also known as dialysis social workers, these professionals are required to have masters level specialized training that allows them to best assist the patients cope with the stresses of dialysis. The role of the dialysis social worker will vary from unit to unit as each unit's needs not only are each different but continue to evolve according to the changing needs of the patients served.
The social worker's goal on the dialysis team at Mercy Medical Center Dialysis unit is multidimensional. First and foremost, it is to help the patient achieve optimum benefit from being on dialysis. We will work with the patient's personal physician, medical team and family as resources to achieve maximum benefit. In doing so, we foster a partnership that hopefully contributes to a rewarding relationship for both the patient and the health care professionals serving the patient at the dialysis center. This is a relationship that results in both parties contributing in a manner that openly demonstrates respect and dignity for the other.
The social worker will:
- Assist patients with questions or concerns relating to their insurance, Medicare, Medicaid or other community, state, and federal programs.
- Assist patients with ADVANCE DIRECTIVES issues: whether it be collecting existing ones or helping develop new ones as patients request these.
- Assist patients with financial concerns, whether it be the result of the expenses associated with dialysis; loss of income resulting from the on-set of the disease; and/or the cost of the medications.
- Assist patients and families with personal issues that pre-existed or resulted from the initiation of dialysis: issues such as communication problems among family members; role reversals within the family setting resulting from the initiation of dialysis; stresses resulting from patients needing increased amounts of the family's time, etc.
- Assist patients in obtaining help with the costs of medications, whether it be attempting to get them on government programs, medication assistance programs from the pharmaceutical companies, Rural Outreach, etc.
- Assist patients with the proper and timely utilization of community resources, such as home health care; adult day care; durable medical equipment; skilled, intermediate and assisted living care arrangements.
- Assist with referrals to community resources for the purpose of obtaining eligibility for programs such as: Social Security Disability, Chronic Renal Disease Program, Community Case Management' etc.
- Assist with arranging transportation to and from dialysis.
- Educational assistance. Each patient requires individualized attention and education specifically tailored to help the patient and family learn and retain key information. Staff will re-enforce recommendations and protocol while allowing the patient to remain in control of their own destiny.
Patients who have successfully learned key elements of the care will achieve greater treatment success when they utilize the education made available to them, whether it pertains specifically to their treatment or to services and programs available to them. While patients and families are strongly encouraged to ask questions and participate in their day-to-day treatments and care, the patients often will choose to do some research on their own.
To get you started, check out the information at the many links listed on this site.
Nutrition Services
As kidney disease progresses, poor appetite and uremic toxcins in the blood often affect the nutritional status of kidney patients. This may lead to malnutrition, weight loss, weakness, and fatigue. A renal (kidney) dietitian will be able to individualize a nutrition care plan for each patient. Renal dietitians are nutritionists who specialize in the nutrition care of patients with kidney disease. These professionals are registered dietitians who have a bachelor's degree in dietetics and often have specialty certification in renal nutrition. They work in clinics, hospitals, and dialysis facilities to promote the health and nutritional status of patients with kidney disease.
Services provided include assessment and nutrition education for patients with early kidney disease, end-stage renal disease/dialysis, and transplant. They also provide nutrition education for other chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes education, gastro-intestinal problems and much more.
For more information on nutrition, please call the Mercy Dialysis Center dietitian at 641.422.5336 or check out the resources provided through the links on this website.
