The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) supports gainful employment for end-stage renal disease patients through vocational rehabilitation (voc rehab). Dialysis facility staff, including the social worker, can educate and encourage patients to return to work or school, maintain their dialysis schedule, and live a full and healthy life by picking the best options for their lifestyle.
Resources for Promoting and Supporting Vocational Rehabilitation
- Vocational Rehabilitation Best Practices strategies from multiple ESRD Networks on improving vocational rehabilitation
- Vocational Rehabilitation Facility Checklist - video (from QSource ESRD Network 10) outlines key steps in supporting vocational rehabilitation in your facility
- Vocational Rehabilitation Documentation how to accurately document a vocational rehabilitation status in EQRS
Patient Education
- Ticket to Work webinars provided the Social Security Administration educate patients about programs and work incentives for people who receive Social Security benefits.
- Can I work on dialysis? videos of patients sharing their experiences with working on dialysis
Toolkit
Gainful employment quality improvement activity toolkit - March 2025