The Division of Nephrology welcomes Ellen Criswell, RN, who joins us as an Inpatient Clinical Nurse Coordinator, and Melissa “Missy” Rocco, MSW, LCSW, who is the new Inpatient Social Worker.
Ellen Criswell, RN, Inpatient Clinical Nurse Coordinator
Ellen Criswell graduated from Lewis and Clark Community College with an Associates’ Degree in Nursing in 2005. A hospital RN for the first five years of her career, Ellen then specialized in dialysis care for next nine years. She has been instructing patients and families about home hemodialysis for the past seven years.
Melissa “Missy” Rocco, MSW, LCSW, Inpatient Social Worker
A licensed clinical social worker, Missy Rocco earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Truman State University and Masters in Social Work from the University of Missouri-Columbia. “When I started working in 1996 as a social worker, I truly loved helping to empower dialysis patients, and I have enjoyed the journey of working in the renal healthcare arena since then,” says Missy. “It has been an excellent learning experience working here at Washington University, and I am grateful for this opportunity!”
Previously, Missy was the Manager of Hospital and Patient Services for Fresenius Kidney Care, with a territory covering the Greater St. Louis area to Southwest Missouri. Prior to that, she worked as a dialysis social worker in Missouri and Texas, and was the Kidney Smart Regional Lead and Social Work Regional Lead for DaVita Kidney Care. Missy also worked as the Program Services Director for the National Kidney Foundation.
As renal coordinators, Ellen and Missy provide education, coordinate dialysis patient placements with the inpatient services team, and assist with dialysis patients who are switching treatment modalities. “Our patients often have very complex medical and social issues, and discharge planning for dialysis patients involves the entire team!” they say.
In addition, both Ellen and Missy are excited to be involved in the Transitional Care Program in the division. They concur that the ongoing project “not only helps bridge the gap between hospital and home for our dialysis patients, but also helps improve outcomes and prevent hospital readmissions.” (See Spring 2019 Newsletter).
Ellen and her husband have six children and one granddaughter. On her time off, she enjoys walking, riding bicycles and reading.
On Missy’s down-time, she loves spending time with her husband, three teenage children, and two dogs. Gardening is her favorite hobby.
Welcome to the division, Ellen and Missy! .