Referral Responder

POSITION SUMMARY 

The Referral Responder supports the mission, goals and strategic plan of Nevada Donor Network, Inc. (NDN) by managing and evaluating potential organ donor referrals as well as initiating, guiding, and monitoring the medical management of organ donors under the guidance of the Administrator On-Call (AOC) and Medical Director. The Referral Responder promotes the mission by participating in the delivery of hospital and professional education. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS 

Essential Functions Statement(s) 

• Maintains the highest standards of professional conduct and interpersonal relationship development; promoting a positive and collaborative work environment.
• Identifies potential donor clinical triggers to encourage timely referrals of potential donors from hospitals.
• Completes referral evaluations for the purpose of determining organ and tissue donor suitability based on NDN, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), OPTN/UNOS, Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines and recommendations.
• Completes hospital medical record review, including history of present illness and past medical history, the presence of past or present malignancies, and  all surgical interventions/treatments.
• Demonstrates an understanding of the legal and hospital requirements for death  declaration and organ donation.
• Identifies the patient’s legal next-of-kin in accordance with state and Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA) statutes.
• Assesses family dynamics, availability of hospital support system, and family needs (e.g., cultural, religious, emotional, informational).
• Guides the referring agency to ensure informed consent for organ and tissue donation is requested by a designated requestor in accordance with organizational and hospital policy; ensuring that the legal next-of-kin (NOK) is provided the option of organ      and tissue donation in a sensitive and caring manner that meets their emotional and cultural needs.
• Identifies  organ- and tissue-specific and behavioral risk factors in accordance with NDN and regulatory guidelines.
• Provides hospital-based education in collaboration with hospital development staff.
• Collaborates with the Coroner and Medical Examiner’s office ensure jurisdictional medical and legal requirements for death and organ recovery are satisfied.
• Knowledgeable of the pathophysiological sequelae of brain death and endeavors to physiologically manage the donor to achieve optimal organ function within the parameters defined by the associated protocols under the guidance of the AOC and Medical Director (e.g., monitor bedside and laboratory parameters, initiate donor management directives, maintain optimal      ventilation, and seek medical counsel, as appropriate).
• Collaborates with hospital staff to evaluate and physiologically manage the donor to achieve optimal organ function.
• Understands and complies with procedural aspects and requirements of blood, culture and typing specimen collection and labeling.
• Reviews and documents required information within the donor record, including labs, diagnostics, and procedural records.
• Assists with the management of departmental inventory and operates systems to track case supplies.
• Complies  with NDN and OPTN/UNOS policies regarding documentation, maintenance, and confidentiality of records.
• Utilizes resources with discretion and employs professional laterality, when possible (i.e., utilization of hospital profiles, engagement with donor family and hospital staff, etc.).
• Satisfies administrative, as designated. 
• Fulfills additional individual and departmental directives, obligations and responsibilities, as designated.

SKILLS & ABILITIES

Education: Healthcare-related degree preferred; clinical experience can be substituted for education. Clinical experience could be nursing, paramedicine, EMT or Respiratory Therapy.  
Experience: Nursing, paramedic medicine, medical technician or related medical experience preferred. Requestor experience a plus.
Computer Skills: Microsoft Office products (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) required. Microsoft Outlook required. Electronic medical records (e.g., Cerner, Epic, Meditech) preferred.  
Certificates & Licenses: None.

Other Requirements: Ability to fulfill on-call obligations; case work up to 24 consecutive hours.