Meet Susan

Susan Ostrzycki is a NxStage Clinical Consultant who enjoys making positive impact on our patients' health and wellbeing. She especially loves working in the Home Therapies department and has enjoyed watching it grow from when she started with Fresenius more than 14 years ago. Learn more about how Susan came to be a part of the Fresenius Medical Care North America team, and how she is making a difference.

LET’S HEAR WHAT LANCE HAD TO SAY:

Q: What made you initially chose Fresenius Medical Care and an employer?

A: I first decided to work for Fresenius Medical Care in 2004, when my husband was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD).  I wanted to learn all I could about kidney disease and the options available to us if his condition worsened.  I figured working as an incenter staff nurse would place me on the front lines of dealing with this disease so we could make good decisions regarding his care.

Q: What played into your decision to leave FMCNA?

A: I left FMC to do acutes, PD, and plasmapheresis at our local hospital.  I wanted to be challenged to broaden my skills and knowledge base.  This was my first exposure to a home modality. 

Q: What opportunities did you pursue outside of FMCNA?  Please speak to what impact this experience had on you/how it compared to your time at FMCNA.

A: I pursued hospital dialysis because it demanded more knowledge of the disease process and its management.  It also required more interaction with the nephrologist.  I had to stay on top of what was going on with every patient. I dialyzed in order to optimize their care. I became an in-house renal educator for the hospital as well during my time working with acutes.

Q: You are now back at FMCNA – how did that happen?  Please speak to what lead you back to FMCNA.

A: Every time I went into the ICU units to dialyze my patients, I took a Nephrology News and Issues journal, or I would print off dialysis related articles from “Up To Date”, our hospital educational resource.  There was usually plenty of down time after I initiated treatment, so I would read about the latest cutting-edge dialysis innovations while monitoring my patient’s long dialysis treatments.  For 3 years, while doing acutes, I read about a new hemodialysis machine that patients could use in their home.  I read about all the many health and quality of life benefits it boasted.  I began thinking about how this home modality would better suit my husband’s lifestyle.  I asked my nephrologists about it and encouraged them to consider using it in our area. While doing an acute in ICU one day, I got a call from one of my favorite Nephrologists asking if I would be interested in becoming his very first HHD nurse. 

Q: What impacted your decision to return to FMCNA?

A: I truly felt this opportunity was a divine appointment.  I embraced this new challenge with Gusto and trained around 30 HHD patients on the NxStage System One Cycler throughout the next few years while working at FMC North Alabama Home. Thereafter, I went on to work for the NxStage machine company, training nurses all over Mississippi, Tennessee, and Alabama.  When FMC, the largest dialysis company in the world, acquired NxStage in 2019, I was thrilled at the unprecedented potential to grow HHD beyond my wildest dreams. I once again became an FMC employee and joined forces with them to impact the dialysis world for the better.

Q: What has your transition back into FMCNA been like?  Are you happy to be back?  If so, why?

A: I truly feel like I am at the right place at the right time.  Everything I have learned in my 14 years of dialysis experience has brought me to my finest hours in my career.  My sweet spot is without a doubt HHD, and I am working for a company that has aligned its HHD growth goals with my passion.  My career motto has and forever will be “NxStage for all who want to reap its many benefits!” 

Q: What would you say to someone considering a return to FMCNA?

A: I highly recommend working at Fresenius Medical Care.  Especially home therapies.  It has never been more exciting than it is right now.   My very own daughter has recently accepted a HHD training nurse position at FMC Huntsville, AL.  It makes my heart sing to see that her beautiful spacious home clinic has magnificently replaced the tiny HHD area allotted to me as the first HHD nurse at FMC North Alabama.  Two generations, fulfilling our passions to help dialysis patients experience the “Sunny Side” of dialysis. Home Dialysis.

About Fresenius Medical Care

We have become a global leader in healthcare because of the unwavering dedication our people bring to work every day. Whether that means developing new-to-market dialysis technology or educating patients, our team touches the lives of more than 190,000 patients through innovative care and profound, personal connections.

With Fresenius Medical Care North America, you will “be the difference,” enabling patients to thrive, providing comfort to families, supporting coworkers so they can realize their goals, compelling our company to achieve through innovation and performance, and driving the development of your career.

Our team is made up of over 70,000 dedicated employees in North America, all of whom focus on being the difference and delivering the highest-quality care to people with kidney disease – helping them to lead longer better, and healthier lives.

The FMC Renal Therapies Group (RTG)  is an essential and reliable partner in providing renal care products. We serve our patients and customers with the most advanced care. From home and in-center dialysis device technology to renal pharmaceuticals and critical care solutions, we empower patients to live their best lives with our renal therapies.

Our team is made up of over 64,000 dedicated employees in North America, all of whom focus on being the difference and delivering the highest-quality care to people with kidney disease.

Why Join our team?

• Rated as a Forbes’ U.S. Best Employers
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Company car and home office support
• Salary plus yearly bonus
• 401(K)
• Clear career path within the MSL team
• Cross-functional collaboration