Social Workers of Dialysis Centers That Are All But Useless.....

[Mr Ken]

Anyone have issues with their social worker at dialysis centers??? I have one that is a worthless piece of💩. I have had it with him and with my last meeting with him this past week I recorded the interaction to be talked about and played on Youtube soon. Before I start my discussion on my experience with him I am curious if there were other common occurrences.

[kristina]

What was it your social worker was not assisting you with and why did they not assist?
Best wishes from Kristina.

[iolaire]

Check you state laws regarding concent to record others. 

Also I’d expect your center will ask you to find another should they find out about the recording - I’d assume that will be viewed as against a few of the numerous rules in the treatment agreements you signed at your center.

My social workers were fine but changed about yearly.

[Michael Murphy]

In 6 years I have had 4 social workers 2 were next to useless and 2 did their jobs well. 

[Paul]

I've twice had to deal with social workers. One was just useless, the other needed to improve considerably before they were good enough to be called useless. No exaggeration to say their attempt to help me, when I was in hospital, ruined my life.

[Mr Ken]

Check you state laws regarding concent to record others. 

The state I am in is a one party consent. I had that covered a long time ago. also at the Federal level

Federal law permits recording telephone calls and in-person conversations with the consent of at least one of the parties. See 18 U.S.C. 2511(2)(d). This is called a "one-party consent" law. Under a one-party consent law, you can record a phone call or conversation so long as you are a party to the conversation.

Also I’d expect your center will ask you to find another should they find out about the recording - I’d assume that will be viewed as against a few of the numerous rules in the treatment agreements you signed at your center.

That would only cause more trouble for them. Do your job and you have nothing to worry about. Me nor anyone else should not be treated like crap. Rudely telling someone to do it yourself storming out. Cutting you off mid sentence in a telephone conversation and hanging up. NOT WILLING TO HELP WITH ANYTHING. This is not the first time he demonstrated lack of professionalism and willingness to help. Magic eightball for answers.....

They know about the recording I pulled out the recorder in front of them. Talk normal it will pick up the voice....


They take detail notes on you as a patient. Everything you say everyone knows about it. The recorder is for my personal protection if they do not like it shut up and don't talk to me. Just do your job which by the way has not been that great. I cannot tell you how many times I made special trips to get supplies to accommodate the prescription changes. You are  hard stick I cannot get the blood draw you have to come back to have somebody else do it. We have to redo a several hour test because we cannot get the blood draw.... I did not have to do that and should not have too. I even returned unused supplies that were not going to be used. No regard to patient's time. Just this past week something happened which did not get done because of technical problem on their end. What no backup??? See you at the clinic visit and not before. I am done trying to be accommodating at their pleasure. 

My social workers were fine but changed about yearly.

Glad to hear you had no issues with the social worker or perhaps you did not need the person for anything...

Ken

[Mr Ken]

........ the other needed to improve considerably before they were good enough to be called useless.

  That is a good one... This is a keeper...

[GA_DAWG]

I have seen good and bad social workers. In some cases, they have them covering multiple clinics, so they are simply overworked for what they are trying to do. Others it was obvious were not as well trained. Our current social worker passes thorugh about once a month, but she is trying to cover four different clinics tha tI know of.

[Mr Ken]

I have seen good and bad social workers. In some cases, they have them covering multiple clinics, so they are simply overworked for what they are trying to do. Others it was obvious were not as well trained. Our current social worker passes thorugh about once a month, but she is trying to cover four different clinics tha tI know of.

Tom only works part time and has he put it has about 24 patient's.  He works a couple of clinics but as a patient I do not care. He should be a decent social worker to all patients. That is his job. That is what he is getting paid form. I am not asking him to have all the answers that would be unreasonable of me. Once a month in dealing with a patient issue is a long stretch. Here are my two words oh I will see you next month to finish the sentence. Come on....... Don't forget dealing with this dialysis in itself is no walk in the park.

Ken

[Simon Dog]

a long time ago. also at the Federal level

Federal law permits recording telephone calls and in-person conversations with the consent of at least one of the parties. See 18 U.S.C. 2511(2)(d). This is called a "one-party consent" law. Under a one-party consent law, you can record a phone call or conversation so long as you are a party to the conversation.

Just because federal law allows it, does not prevent a state from making it a crime.   Justs look at all the states that have banned certain guns that are legal under federal law.

Here in the DPRM (Democratic People's Republik of Massachusetts), surreptitious recording that is not either so obvious all parties can reasonably be expected to know it is being done, or all parties are notified (not consent to, but notified of), is considered "wiretapping" - a felony under state law.   There was one hapless in-duh-vidual (courtesy to DNRC - google dogbert dnrc) who recorded a police officer at a traffic stop and filed a complaint with the PD using the recording to show he was rudely treated.  The police responded by charging him with felony wiretapping and got a conviction.   Upon appeal, the MA SJC (state supreme court) upheld the conviction saying among other things that allowing such recording would permit criminals to document police misconduct.  (WTF?).   See Commonwealth v. Hyde, MA SJC.

Glick v. Boston et. al. upheld the right to video police in the performance of their duties, but does not appear to have struck down the "no surreptitious" requirement.

[cattlekid]

My social workers did nothing for me, both while I was in-center and while I was at home (two different social workers).  I did not need their financial assistance with figuring out how I was going to pay for dialysis or medications.  So there really wasn't going to be anything they could do for me, unless they wanted to come to my house to cook, clean and do laundry.   Basically, they were glorified paper pushers worried about how the centers were going to get their payments. 

[Mr Ken]

a long time ago. also at the Federal level

Federal law permits recording telephone calls and in-person conversations with the consent of at least one of the parties. See 18 U.S.C. 2511(2)(d). This is called a "one-party consent" law. Under a one-party consent law, you can record a phone call or conversation so long as you are a party to the conversation.

Just because federal law allows it, does not prevent a state from making it a crime.   Justs look at all the states that have banned certain guns that are legal under federal law.

Here in the DPRM (Democratic People's Republik of Massachusetts), surreptitious recording that is not either so obvious all parties can reasonably be expected to know it is being done, or all parties are notified (not consent to, but notified of), is considered "wiretapping" - a felony under state law.   There was one hapless in-duh-vidual (courtesy to DNRC - google dogbert dnrc) who recorded a police officer at a traffic stop and filed a complaint with the PD using the recording to show he was rudely treated.  The police responded by charging him with felony wiretapping and got a conviction.   Upon appeal, the MA SJC (state supreme court) upheld the conviction saying among other things that allowing such recording would permit criminals to document police misconduct.  (WTF?).   See Commonwealth v. Hyde, MA SJC.

Glick v. Boston et. al. upheld the right to video police in the performance of their duties, but does not appear to have struck down the "no surreptitious" requirement.

In the state I am in there is no issue. Like I said before do your job there is no issue. I am going to a dialysis center to be treated not be treated like you know what. I am not going to put up with that. Put it this way if he was working under me he would be let go. Not even a second chance. The PD center lost my trust. No more. The game has changed and I am not leaving. It would cost me more money  and inconvenience.   

[Mr Ken]

My social workers did nothing for me, both while I was in-center and while I was at home (two different social workers).  I did not need their financial assistance with figuring out how I was going to pay for dialysis or medications.  So there really wasn't going to be anything they could do for me, unless they wanted to come to my house to cook, clean and do laundry.   Basically, they were glorified paper pushers worried about how the centers were going to get their payments.

You are mostly correct.

[GA_DAWG]

You are correct that the majority of what I see them doing is trying to help with financing dialysis, which is actully making the dialysis company money by ensuring they get paid, though it does ease the patients mind, and arranging transportation to and from the clinic. apart from that, there is the yearly survey. As you say, ther eis the occassional, "anything I can do for you" in passing, but that's about it. There also seems to be a good amount of turnover in the position.

[Mr Ken]

You are correct that the majority of what I see them doing is trying to help with financing dialysis, which is actully making the dialysis company money by ensuring they get paid, though it does ease the patients mind, and arranging transportation to and from the clinic. apart from that, there is the yearly survey. As you say, ther eis the occassional, "anything I can do for you" in passing, but that's about it. There also seems to be a good amount of turnover in the position.

Most people are on medicare or if not the social workers pushes to put you into medicare. As far as transportation any staff nurse could arrange that. Simply calling a transportation service which they should know who is in that area and checking insurance and be done with it. Tom's response was "I am not your personal secretary" so I doubt he would do it.

My clinic visits he will not be allowed in the same room while I visit with the doctor. I will say either he leaves or I am done with the monthly clinic visit.

Tom is a worthless piece of 💩. Putting it nicely.....
 

[Charlie B53]

IIRC even in those States that claim audio recording Police to be a form of 'wiretapping', the Courts have yet held vidoe WITHOUT audio, to be legal.  B.S. as the Police can say anything and still get away with it.


Recording, either audio or video, within Dialoysis clinics is frowned upon.  While the Law may allow 'Public' recording, a Dialysis is NOT considered a Public place.   Publishing any recording made within a Private Business very well be suitable grounds for termination of services to you.

Tread lightly.

Everyone has a Boss.  Go over his head.  If you do not get satisfaction from the Boss, then go over THAT Boss's head, and so on.

Document every step/level, in writing.  Once it is spelled out and no one makes improvements then you can go outside the business to your State Agency that oversees Dialysis or to CMS.

Documentation and learning the Chain of Command works in more places than just in the Military.  Been there, Done that.  I could write a book but I doubt it would sell many copies.

[Michael Murphy]

Be careful the federal law whil one party in Nauru requires either prior consent or a regular beeping sound to inform the other party  .the taping. State law in some cases requires 2 party consent.  I have gotten around the requirment by the use of a speaker phone in a conference room with witnesses present.

[cattlekid]

Not only did I not need financial assistance, I did not need transportation assistance (drove myself to and from dialysis while I was in center as it was a less than 10 minute drive to my center). 

What really chapped my hide was when I was on home hemo and my social worker couldn't be arsed to come to my monthly clinic visits even though I scheduled them SIX MONTHS in advance.  Her excuse was that my clinic visits were later in the afternoon and it interfered with her childcare arrangements.  So not my problem!! 

I finally threw a hissy fit right before a state audit and refused to sign my monthly care plan until I had a face to face with the social worker, dietitian (another one who couldn't be arsed to see me in person) and the nurse.  Of course, I got a transplant the next month so my big "last stand" was for naught.

You are correct that the majority of what I see them doing is trying to help with financing dialysis, which is actully making the dialysis company money by ensuring they get paid, though it does ease the patients mind, and arranging transportation to and from the clinic. apart from that, there is the yearly survey. As you say, ther eis the occassional, "anything I can do for you" in passing, but that's about it. There also seems to be a good amount of turnover in the position.

[kristina]

I've twice had to deal with social workers. One was just useless, the other needed to improve considerably before they were good enough to be called useless. No exaggeration to say their attempt to help me, when I was in hospital, ruined my life.

Gosh, that sounds pretty terrible and I feel so sorry for what you had to go through ...  and it sounds very evil !
What did they do to you to ruin your life when you were in hospital ? How could they get the power to do anything bad to you when you were in hospital ? Did it involve for you to get the wrong medical treatment ? Did they influence the doctors in a bad way ?
I don't quite understand because, after all, they are "only" employed as a social worker ... or are they ?
Sorry again for what you had to go through and I send you my best wishes from Kristina.

[Mr Ken]

Recording, either audio or video, within Dialoysis clinics is frowned upon. 

Not getting decent service is frowned upon. They are not getting paid to provide crappy service. A person should not have to be forced and or inconvenienced to go somewhere else because of it.

While the Law may allow 'Public' recording, a Dialysis is NOT considered a Public place.   Publishing any recording made within a Private Business very well be suitable grounds for termination of services to you.

Tread lightly.

Unfortunately it is my business. If they do their job then there is nothing to worry about. Plain and simple I do not care. The recording is my documentation. One step above it has his voice! He documented himself. When you call into a business today your interaction is logged in a computer and or recorded.

Everyone has a Boss.  Go over his head.  If you do not get satisfaction from the Boss, then go over THAT Boss's head, and so on.

Document every step/level, in writing.  Once it is spelled out and no one makes improvements then you can go outside the business to your State Agency that oversees Dialysis or to CMS.

Documentation and learning the Chain of Command works in more places than just in the Military.  Been there, Done that.  I could write a book but I doubt it would sell many copies.

I have also tried the fill out the complaint form route... Rarely does it go anywhere. Lets not talk about CMS and IPRO... That is another volume in the encyclopedia.

My life is not public domain of someone else. It is private property. No one is going to change my mind on the recordings. A service is being paid for. They are not doing it for free. The least they could do is do a good service.

There are a lot of issues that go on in dialysis centers that should be brought to light. They are far from perfect and sometimes patients do suffer because of it. This is not a volunteer endeavor. It is long term.  I am not saying patients are the best to deal with. I could be quite the challenge at times but I also realize that some things need to be done and try to accommodate.

I am livid about this and I am not holding back on this one..... The dialysis center lost my trust and the relationship going forward is changed. As they say I gotta do it but I don't gotta dig it.

In the beginning of this journey, doing PD, the Dialysis Nurse Dave ordered over 20 boxes of 1.5% dialysate solution. It came but the problem is he knew that I do not use 1.5 % solution. During training I did not use the 1.5 because it is not adequate enough.  I lugged all that crap into the car and brought it back to him.

My next clinic visit I am bring back two more boxes of the 1.5% and two boxes of the 4.25%. Using 4.25% is not good over a long period of time and could result in damage to the peritoneal cavity. The house is not a damn warehouse if not used for this stuff.

I am being nice in bringing it back to them and not just dumping it in their parking lot!   

Ken

[Mr Ken]

I am not trying to create a problem here. Had the social worker been decent I would not even keep the recording. Would have been forgotten about. This is not the first time this piece of work has been unreasonable... First couple of times I rolled with the punches but this last time NO!

Never told which dialysis center this happened at. Sorry. Freedom Center on 52 S Union Rd, Buffalo, NY 14221. Hi Dave, Angela, Barbray - the newbie, Tom who claims to have a title of social worker.....

FYI You could freeze apple cider. The taste is slightly different from fresh but it is still very good. When it was on sale for $2.99 a gallon you cannot go wrong. Freeze three gallons and have it all of November December.

[Paul]

What did they do to you to ruin your life when you were in hospital ?.......

It is a long story. I have posted about it on this board before and I doubt if anyone wants to read through it again, so I'll give you the "Cliff Notes" version here:

While in hospital, social services needed access to my home. I gave them my door keys and expected them to return them. Instead they put them in a key safe on the front door. A neighbour smashed it open and robbed me, taking anything of value, lots of things with sentimental value, and wrecking the place. When I came out of hospital and saw this I went into depression, mostly from the loss of sentimental stuff, and sat in the mess for months, doing nothing but spending my savings. During that time I pulled myself together enough to contact social services about it. Fearing a lawsuit they simply cut me off and left me contemplating killing myself. I have always wanted to produce a movie, and before going into hospital had at last got the money together to do so (very low budget, very very low budget). In my depression I just sat, spending money on food, and got through that money. As I am now on disability benefit I'll never save that much again. That life long dream has gone too. I have still not fully cleared up from the robbery. Fire officer visited a while back and decided that due to the state of it, my apartment is not fit for human habitation. The only reason he did not order my eviction was that he realised I am still going in and out of a depressive state, and eviction would probably tip me over the edge into suicide.

More recently I have tried to get social services to help undo the damage they caused, they still blank me. And although I now don't get up every morning and consider stepping in front of a tram, there are days when I consider it. I still live in a mess, stuff thrown all over the place. And the social services still afraid to even discuss the problem that they caused.

One day I may stop posting here. And it may be because I finally lost my battle with the urge to step in front of a tram. If that happens, and anyone posts an eulogy, you can say that I was effectively killed by social workers.

Now somebody please post something cheary to counterbalance this post.

[Mr Ken]

That was pretty bad Paul. But you did get through it...... Think Turkey sandwiches with cranberries.

Ken

[enginist]

During my initial transplant evaluation, the social worker was the biggest obstacle, less of a help than a hindrance.  I don't know if she has final say, but she insisted that I needed a live-in caregiver for two weeks after the transplant.  Transplant recipients on this site have assured me otherwise.  It's a little odd that social workers, who probably think of themselves as caring and compassionate, should be acquiring such negative reputations.

[Mr Ken]

During my initial transplant evaluation, the social worker was the biggest obstacle, less of a help than a hindrance.  I don't know if she has final say, but she insisted that I needed a live-in caregiver for two weeks after the transplant.

I too have been denied transplant evaluation because I do not have a social support network in place. What make this hard for me is I no longer have a family they are all gone and dealing with this issue rubs it in my face to the fact that I no longer have a family. I do not feel good about it. Sadness and anger rolled into one. They do not give a crap. You cannot make a stranger or anyone be a caregiver. There are agencies that do caregiver services. I personally believe they use this gotcha as a weeding out the herd tactic because they know many people do not have the caregiver assistance.... This is 2018 people are different now.

This is one one the main issues I asked the worthless social support person for help with coming up with a way. Tom's response was WRONG! "I am not your personal secretary" "You have to do it yourself - I could advise" Idiot if you could advise then you must know the answer so why not just help. Talking to me like a magic eight ball is not doing me any good. The fact that he then got up and stormed out cutting me off makes me very angry. This is far from over with me and the Dialysis center. This is life sustaining treatment they cannot just get rid of you without having a transitional alternative plan. I has a patient spend a lot of time dealing with this and I am not getting paid.  I expect top notch service AND UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT EASY FOR ANYONE. IT SUCKS! I do not need people to amplify this process.....

  Transplant recipients on this site have assured me otherwise.  It's a little odd that social workers, who probably think of themselves as caring and compassionate, should be acquiring such negative reputations.

Social workers should have a bountiful amount of resources just by the fact that they do or suppose to do the job as a social worker. Many of them are plain lazy. Like Tom put it I have around 24 patients part time.... That is not my fault. Obviously Fresenius feels for the clinics being served that is what they want to pay for. Social work is not ongoing with many people. Working with 24 people is nothing. If was helpful instead of being useless he would bang out the solutions bang bang bang.... If I knew I would not be asking for assistance. DUH!!!!

Oh man this up coming clinic visit is going to be full of sparks.......

Gotta go - have a Dr. Appointment...... Blood pressure reading out the window.........

Ken