Referral Responder (Savannah, GA Area)

About the role

Join LifeLink — Join a Life Saving Team!

More than four decades ago, a visionary group of innovators, led by renowned nephrologist Dr. Dana Shires, made a life-changing commitment—to save lives through organ and tissue donation. From that bold beginning, LifeLink Foundation was established – founded with heart, purpose, and a mission that still guides us today.

At LifeLink, we are united by our mission: To honor donors and save lives through organ and tissue donation. Our vision remains clear: To maximize the gift of life while giving hope to donor families and transplant patients.

Responsibilities

• Maintain the highest standards of professional conduct and interpersonal relationship development, promoting a positive and collaborative work environment aligned with LifeLink’s mission, vision, and values.
• Serve as a professional and visible clinical partner to hospitals, demonstrating discretion, sensitivity, and sound judgment in high-acuity and emotionally complex environments.
• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional LifeLink teams and external partners to support timely referral response, effective communication, and consistent case progression.
• Receive, triage, and manage incoming hospital referrals; screen for donor potential and complete time-sensitive referral evaluations to determine organ and/or tissue donation suitability in accordance with LifeLink policy and applicable guidelines.
• Identify and reinforce clinical triggers and escalation thresholds; provide real-time feedback and initiate consultation or next-step planning when conditions may influence donor acceptance or case direction.
• Obtain, interpret, and document the potential donor’s medical and social history, including organ/tissue-specific factors and behavioral risk indicators, consistent with LifeLink policy and regulatory guidance.
• Conduct comprehensive medical record review and clinical synthesis (HPI, PMH, malignancy review, treatments/interventions, diagnostics) and communicate key findings to appropriate LifeLink clinical resources for decision-making.
• Evaluate and support donation pathways, including donation after circulatory death (DCD) screening and progression, consistent with LifeLink practice standards and hospital processes.
• Demonstrate understanding of legal and hospital requirements for death declaration (neurologic and circulatory frameworks as applicable) and the operational interface with donation workflow; apply working knowledge of physiologic changes associated with critical illness and neurologic death to support appropriate escalation and donor management planning.
• Communicate clearly with hospital clinicians regarding case status, information needs, anticipated next steps, and timing considerations; support a professional, responsive hospital experience.
• Identify the patient’s legal next-of-kin or legally authorized decision-maker consistent with applicable anatomical gift law and hospital documentation practices.
• Assess family dynamics and support needs (cultural, religious, emotional, informational) and coordinate appropriate LifeLink resources; demonstrate discretion and sensitivity to family circumstances, beliefs, and preferences.
• Guide the facility and LifeLink team process to ensure authorization/consent is requested by a designated requestor in accordance with LifeLink and hospital policy, ensuring families are offered the option to donate in a sensitive, informed, and caring manner.
• Understand and comply with procedural requirements for blood, culture, and typing specimen collection, labeling, and documentation as required by policy and workflow.
• Review, enter, and maintain required information in the donor record accurately and promptly (labs, diagnostics, procedures, risk screening elements, referral communications) within the OPO EMR and related systems; comply with documentation, privacy, confidentiality, and record maintenance standards.
• Provide hospital-based education and real-time donation process support in collaboration with hospital development staff, reinforcing timely referral practices and effective case communication.
• Collaborate with the Medical Examiner/Coroner office as applicable to support jurisdictional requirements for death investigation, authorization constraints, and procedural coordination to satisfy legal requirements.
• Use organizational resources responsibly and with professional judgment; leverage hospital profiles and other operational tools to support effective referral response and documentation.
• Participate in Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) activities as outlined in the OPO QAPI Plan and evaluate personal performance by comparing outcomes to expectations.
• Complete administrative responsibilities and perform other duties as assigned to support departmental operations, performance, and quality objectives.

Requirements

• Minimum of an Associate degree in a clinical discipline (e.g., Nursing, Respiratory Therapy), Paramedic certification, Bachelor’s degree in a related field (e.g., biological sciences, health sciences, donation-focused disciplines), or equivalent combination of clinical/donation experience demonstrating competency in medical record review, clinical communication, and acute-care decision support.
• Minimum of two (2) years of relevant clinical experience or donation-focused experience involving medical record review, patient assessment, clinical communication, and time-sensitive coordination.
• Prefer experience in ICU/ED, rapid response, transport, respiratory therapy, paramedicine, or OPO referral intake/donor management.
• Strong communication skills with demonstrated ability to collaborate with hospital clinicians and support families through sensitive interactions.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds (e.g., equipment, supplies) and perform routine physical tasks associated with field-based clinical work.
• Ability to work independently in a field-based environment while maintaining alignment with centralized operations and escalation pathways.
• Ability to work a rotating schedule and respond to time-sensitive operational demands.
• Requires a valid driver’s license with a good driving record, and the ability to meet LifeLink driving requirements.