Help patients navigate chronic kidney disease before dialysis through education, care coordination, and ongoing support. This field-based role partners closely with nephrology providers to improve patient outcomes, address care gaps, and connect patients with the resources they need to make informed treatment decisions. Ideal for professionals passionate about patient advocacy, relationship building, and making a meaningful impact in kidney care.
PURPOSE AND SCOPE:
The Kidney Care Specialist (KCS) supports patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) by driving early education adoption, care navigation, and engagement through a combination of field-based physician and community outreach and virtual patient support. This role bridges the gap between diagnosis and informed treatment choice, ensuring patients receive timely, consistent education and support across the kidney care continuum. Deployment may vary by market need and may include field-based, virtual, or hybrid responsibilities.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Provide virtual care navigation to CKD and ESRD patients regarding kidney disease progression, treatment options (including home modalities and transplantation), and self-management strategies using approved digital platforms.
- Conduct scheduled and on-demand virtual or in-person patient interactions (video, phone, and electronic communication) to assess patient needs, readiness, barriers, and preferences.
- Collaborate with nephrologists, advanced practice providers, care teams, and internal partners to support coordinated patient care and appropriate referrals.
- Build and maintain strong working relationships with nephrologists, advanced practice providers, clinical managers, care coordinators, and practice staff to support aligned Kidney Care Advocate and value-based care objectives.
- Partner with internal stakeholders (KCA leadership, Value Based Care Health teams, operations, clinical, and market development) to ensure consistent messaging, coordinated workflows, and patient follow-through.
- Serve as a trusted resource to referring practices by providing timely communication, education updates, and patient status as appropriate
- Document patient interactions, education provided, and outcomes accurately and timely in designated systems (e.g., Salesforce, EMR, or other approved platforms).
- Support referral workflows by ensuring patients are appropriately educated, tracked, and followed through the kidney care continuum.
- Utilize virtual tools, dashboards, and reports to track patient engagement, outcomes, and program performance, escalating concerns as appropriate.
- Participate in the development, evaluation, and continuous improvement of virtual education materials, documentation, and on-demand content.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of kidney disease, treatment modalities, and Fresenius Kidney Care programs to ensure consistent, compliant education.
- Identify patient barriers to care (social, logistical, educational) and connect patients with appropriate internal or external resources.
- Support quality, safety, and compliance initiatives by adhering to all regulatory, privacy, and documentation standards.
- Participate in team meetings, training sessions, and performance reviews as required.
- Support patients longitudinally, reinforcing education, and navigating next steps in collaboration with the care team.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS:
- Role may be field-based, virtual, or hybrid depending on market needs.
- Field-based roles may require extensive local or regional travel.
- Valid driver’s license with reliable transportation and the ability to travel extensively within the assigned market.
- Travel to regional business units, corporate meetings, and on-site training will be required.
- Extensive regional travel to physician groups, healthcare locations, and associate home base.
- Must be willing to work occasionally in the evening and weekends, as needed.
- Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
- Prolonged periods of sitting and computer use.
- Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
SUPERVISION:
- No direct supervisory responsibilities.
- Works under the guidance of Kidney Care leadership and in close collaboration with clinical and operational teams.
EDUCATION AND REQUIRED CREDENTIALS:
- High School diploma or G.E.D. required; 3-5 years clinical background preferred
- Relevant licensure or certification preferred, as applicable.
EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS:
- Minimum 1-3 years of experience in kidney care, chronic disease management, or related healthcare fields.
- Experience working with CKD, ESRD, dialysis, or chronic disease populations preferred.
- Prior experience delivering virtual or telephonic patient education is strongly preferred.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to explain complex clinical concepts in a clear, patient-friendly manner.
- Demonstrated ability to engage patients remotely and build trust in a virtual environment.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to manage a virtual caseload.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and experience with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and/or EMRs.
- Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills.
- Comfort with digital platforms, virtual meeting tools, and data-driven workflows.
- Valid driver’s license with reliable transportation and the ability to travel within the assigned market.
- Ability to work autonomously but collaboratively on a team
Fresenius Medical Care is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, parental status, national origin, age, disability, military service, or other non-merit-based factors
