Newbie!

[smartcookie]

Hi, everyone!  I am a renal social worker and have been snooping around this site for awhile.  You all have helped shaped my practice and helped me understand more of what my patients face.  Thank you all for being so candid and I am looking forward to learning more here! 

[Michael Murphy]

Welcome, as a dialysis patient I firmly believe the must under appreciated person in the center is the social worker.  From insurance problems to just plain problems they have been a wealth of information and help.  I am sure your advise to people on this site will be invaluable.

[smartcookie]

Thanks!

[Razman]

It's great that you joined. Please stay in touch and give support.   

[MooseMom]

Dear smartcookie,

I am very glad to see that you've become a member of our community.

We have had quite a few professionals who have joined.  We've had renal dieticians, techs, dialysis nurses and even nephrologists.  Sadly, they come for a short while, and then they leave.  As renal patients, we cannot "leave".  While I welcome you, I will be curious to see how long you stick around.  We would be very grateful to have a professional such as yourself become an active member on IHD.

[smartcookie]

Dear smartcookie,

I am very glad to see that you've become a member of our community.

We have had quite a few professionals who have joined.  We've had renal dieticians, techs, dialysis nurses and even nephrologists.  Sadly, they come for a short while, and then they leave.  As renal patients, we cannot "leave".  While I welcome you, I will be curious to see how long you stick around.  We would be very grateful to have a professional such as yourself become an active member on IHD.

Thanks! I have wanted to join for a while! I think other professionals did not stick around long before is because this site is for patients. It is hard to juggle the professional persona at work and then support patients after work. I am excited to learn from you all and hopefully give some helpful advice!

[Zach]

Hi smartcookie,
It's good to have you here!
 

[Vt Big Rig]

Hello smart cookie.

Welcome to the site.

I often wonder why the site does not have more Dialysis professionals. In my mind; some companies would frown on this because of concerns in today's litigious society.

Dr O always had a disclaimer in his signature I think for this very reason. I hope you are comfortable enough to stay.

Your perspective on things would be very helpful.

Again Welcome.

[Darthvadar]

  to our community...

Good to have you aboard... Members have had differing experiences with Social Workers over the years.., It's going to be good to hear from you..

Darth... Moderator...

[MooseMom]

Thanks! I have wanted to join for a while! I think other professionals did not stick around long before is because this site is for patients. It is hard to juggle the professional persona at work and then support patients after work. I am excited to learn from you all and hopefully give some helpful advice!

Actually, if you read the home page, you will see that this site is for anyone and everyone that has anything to do with chronic kidney disease and especially with dialysis.  This site is NOT for patients only!!! 

Also, whenever there have been professionals on this site, we have never asked for their "support".  There are websites (like Dr. Agar's) where it is understood that while advice/explanations are requested and offered, IT IS ALWAYS RECOMMENDED THAT POSTERS LOOK TO THEIR OWN RENAL TEAM FOR MEDICAL ADVICE.  But on IHD, that is not the case.  Just as you find it valuable to see dialysis through the eyes of the patient, we find it valuable to have the opportunity to learn the limits to what we can expect from the different people on our team.

Unfortunately, past experiences have left many of us feeling that the professionals who have joined for a short time have left because they were uncomfortable with some home truths.  This may well be unfair of us, but no professional has stuck around long enough to disabuse us of these notions.

Anyway, I do hope you stay for a while!  Welcome!

[smartcookie]

Thanks, MooseMom!! I agree that dialysis professionals need support, as well. I can't imagine what dialysis patients go through on a daily basis. I have learned so much by just reading this board and am excited to learn even more by participating. This past work week was togh for me and made me realize that I needed a place to voice my feelings. Thanks so much for the warm welcome! 

[MooseMom]

Smartcookie, my mom was on dialysis for 5 years.  She lived in Houston and had family located on both coasts and along the Gulf Coast (and me up here in the Upper Midwest), so she was determined to travel to see her family.  Spending time with all of us meant a great deal to her, and none of her trips would have been possible without the assistance of her social worker who managed all of the details to get her into dialysis clinics in various states.  A good social worker can truly make the difference between living more happily on dialysis and merely surviving from one session to the next.  A good social worker can keep the outside world accessible.  It is a job filled with a lot of responsibility, and such a job needs a person who is supportive as well as being well supported in their job.

So, if you want to vent some of your frustrations, we are here to listen just as we are here to listen to patients themselves, to their caregivers, to their families and to anyone else who may need it!

[renalwife]

So true.  I sway between stage 3 and 4.  I also have leukemia and a lung condition.  And I don't post very often, but read this forum nearly daily and have learned a lot.  I think IHD has helped keep my sanity!!!

So vent away.  Believe it or not, we know that S.W.'s are human.