Organ Utilization Coordinator

About the role

LifeSource is hiring an Organ Utilization Coordinator (OUC) to manage logistics for organ donation opportunities. The OUC will respond to calls and notifications regarding organ donation placement, execute logistical coordination with stakeholders to optimize donation and transplantation opportunities. This role is ideal for those with clinical backgrounds, such as paramedics, who want to continue making life-saving decisions in high-acuity situations while expanding their expertise into organ donation and transplantation. It offers the opportunity to use emergency-response judgment, communication skills, and comfort with time-sensitive coordination to help maximize the gift of donation and improve outcomes for transplant recipients.

In this role, you will engage as an organ donation subject matter expert with local transplant centers by analyzing clinical information related to potential organ donation and serving as a consultant to these facilities when communicating with other Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs). This includes coordinating and communicating logistics of all activities related to the placement of organs for transplantation, ensuring thorough documentation within the electronic medical record (EMR) in accordance with established policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Manage clinical resources to optimize organ donation and transplantation opportunities for local transplant centers, including clinical evaluation, documentation, logistics, and communication across multiple internal and external teams.
• Manage the organ placement work system, coordinating clinical resources to optimize organs recovered for transplant and research in accordance with OPTN policy, internal, and external customer requirements.
• Coordinate the functions of the organ allocation work system, ensuring all aspects are performed to optimal levels in adherence with regulatory policies and organizational procedures.
• Manage the evaluation, placement, and coordination of organs for transplant, analyzing clinical data and communicating pertinent donor information to the transplant center program teams to protect patient safety and maximize transplantation.
• Maintain knowledge of the factors used to match organs with patients in need, including compatibility of blood type, height, weight, other medical factors, and geography.
• Analyze clinical data and placement trends to guide decision-making on organ suitability.
• Identify potential case-specific barriers, develop strategies to minimize risk, and maximize opportunities for organ placement and transplantation, including assisting team members with organ monitoring prior to transportation.
• Communicate appropriate timelines and schedules with relevant team members to ensure effective preparation and timely presence for facilitation of organ recovery, packaging, and transportation responsibilities.
• Coordinate and oversee the chain of custody over transported blood samples, tissue specimens, and recovered organs for transplant or research.
• Effectively communicate relevant donor information to members of the recipient care team or research partners to minimize organ cold ischemia time and ensure improved transplant recipient outcomes.
• Engage as the primary point of contact with UNOS, OPTN, and other hospital, OPO, or transplant center teams.
• Exercise clinical judgment and a fundamental knowledge of organ viability to drive efficient and effective organ placement practices.
• Effectively communicate pertinent donor information to research partners and transplant programs to protect patient safety and maximize organ placement.
• Collaborate with regional transplant physicians, infectious disease specialists, clinical laboratory scientists, transplant nurses, and other OPO teams, exhibiting knowledge and understanding of Organ Procurement Transplant Network (OPTN) policies.
• Serve as a subject matter expert, internally and with external partners, representing clinical knowledge and regulatory expertise on policies, processes, and procedures when providing information, support, education, or collaboration.
• Ensure thorough, accurate, and timely documentation of all donation activities into defined systems in accordance with policy and procedure.
• Acknowledge the necessary information for all stakeholders, including accuracy of documentation for financial purposes.
• Ensure customer requirements, including donor hospital and transplant center team members, are met.
• Maintain awareness and execute collaboration, communication, and partnership with funeral directors, medical examiners, eye banks, and tissue processors, as appropriate per organ donation case.
• Resolve administrative and logistical changes that arise during the donation and recovery process.
• Monitor and report compliance with OPTN allocation policies and data submission requirements.
• Participate in the development of research organ prioritization algorithms and manage the placement and recovery of research organs and tissues.
• Serve as the allocation policy expert for the organ procurement process and provide guidance as appropriate.
• Participate in performance improvement activities to streamline efficiency, stewardship, and effectiveness of organ placements and transplantation.
• Maintain current knowledge of organ procurement and allocation protocols and UNOS policy changes by participating in UNOS education offerings, clinical conferences, and continuing medical education.
• Design, facilitate, and engage in clinical presentations, education, and knowledge sharing with team members, physicians, nurses, and other stakeholders in the donation process.

Requirements

• Requires a combination of education and experience equivalent to 5 years in emergency room, emergency medical services, surgical recovery, or transplant responsibilities (example backgrounds may include Paramedic, RN, LPN, Respiratory Therapists, Surgical Tech, ACLS-certified clinical backgrounds).
• Prefer previous professional experience within the organ, eye, and tissue donation industry, preferably within an organ allocation work system.
• Detail-oriented, highly organized, with the ability to execute critical thinking and analytical skills to confidently make reasonable and sound decisions.
• Demonstrated interpersonal savvy capabilities, building, maintaining, motivating, influencing, and achieving cooperation with both internal and external relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to exhibit a high degree of quality, integrity, and honor confidentiality of appropriate information, including personal team member data, organizational operations, donor and donor family information, contributor details, financial information, and medical or protected health information (PHI) in accordance with HIPAA.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.

Schedule

• .9 FTE with a variable 12-hour shift schedule that includes days, nights, weekends, and holidays. Occasional overtime may be required.
• Rotating 12-hour shifts, primarily a mix of days and nights (5:30am-6pm and 5:30pm-6am). Scheduled approximately every 3rd weekend.
• Two assigned holidays per year.
• Required meetings may be scheduled outside of standard shift hours.

Working Conditions

• Team members in OSHA Exposure Category II have limited exposure to bloodborne pathogens or handling materials that could spread infection (one opportunity per month). Position may require interaction with staff in patient or donor areas in a hospital, medical examiner office, funeral home, or clinic setting.
• Must be able to follow and complete Category immunization, health screening, and background check requirements.

Pay

Projected offer rate range: $33-40/hour, based on relevant experience.

Benefits

• Comprehensive on-boarding and ongoing personal and career development.
• Traditional benefits such as health, vision, dental, and life insurance.
• Generous PTO and 401k matching.
• Non-traditional benefits including tuition reimbursement, resiliency coaching, and HSA employer contributions.

Why Join LifeSource

At LifeSource, we’re relentlessly pursuing a day where those in need of a life-saving or life-enhancing organ, eye, or tissue transplant receive that gift. By joining the LifeSource team, you will positively impact your neighbors in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin—maybe someone in your very own community. Since 1989, the LifeSource team has worked with our region’s diverse communities to break down barriers to donation. Bringing a rich diversity of perspectives and experience to our organization strengthens our ability to serve our community and fulfill our mission.

Our values embody how we engage in our work: accountability, adaptability, trust, growth mindset, and kindness. LifeSource is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming workplace with opportunities for all talent to thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourage BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, veterans, persons with disabilities, members of marginalized communities, and non-traditional applicants to apply.