Organ Preservation Coordinator

Clinical Responsibilities

• Responsible for the creation of training manuals and administering field training for OPCs on the following competencies: thoracic perfusion, abdominal perfusion and kidney pumping.
• Responsible for logistical management of surgical teams and organs, administration of proper equipment and OR set-up, communicating and documenting inter-operative findings appropriately
• Ensures all aspects of the recovery process are performed to optimal levels in adherence with regulatory policies and organizational procedures
• Surgically assists the organ recovery physician or designee with the removal of organs for transplant, according to established protocols and procedures
• Maintains the ability to recover organs and tissues in order to facilitate current research projects and ongoing education
• Prepares deceased kidneys for the preservation device including cannulation, anatomical review, fat removal, and recovery of tissue for biopsy.
• Displays and maintains expertise in all aspects of kidney pumping including cannulation, pump set-up, monitoring, and documentation requirements
• Oversees the administration of medications required for organ procurement and preservation.
• Obtains Transplant Preservationist certification within 3 years of employment.
• Participates in cross organizational activities to improve organization performance as appropriate
• Serves as the operative expert for the organ recovery process and provides guidance to all participating parties
• Processes incoming donor referrals from our donation service area
• On-Call responsibilities as assigned

Non-Clinical Responsibilities

• Serves on departmental, hospital, and/or medical staff committees
• Assists with data analysis and reporting as it relates to improving the donation process
• Manages the maintenance, stocking, and preparation of supplies to a state of constant readiness for organ recovery process
• Ensures recipient safety and access to transplant by performing all perfusion, packaging and labeling, and regulatory documentation in a high stress environment, an expedited manner, and without error
• Maintains current industry knowledge of organ procurement and preservation technology and protocols by attending clinical conferences and continuing medical education.
• Participates in professional organizations in the area of specialization.
• Develops and presents material regarding organ donation to physicians, nurses, hospital administrators, and other stakeholders in the donation process
• Participates in the orientation of new OPC’s and new transplant center recovery medical staff 

QUALIFICATIONS

• Negotiates donor specific logistics to ensure adherence to ischemic timing restrictions, transport arrangements for medical equipment/devices required, and surgeon availability.
• Authorizes aircraft and vehicle charters, as necessary.  Develops and implements contingency plans to ensure a successful organ procurement process intraoperatively.
• Provides high quality customer service by serving as a process expert in the overall organ recovery process.
• Perfusion of abdominal and thoracic organ systems.
• Provides perfusion and intraoperative support to transplant centers departing the DNWest service area for organ procurement.
• Serves as a consultant to local transplant centers by providing intraoperative support with living-donor kidney nephrectomies.
• Completes all organ procurement cases started; works past scheduled shift times without relief when required.
• Manages the intraoperative organ procurement process – leads a team of surgeons, nurses and medical staff to ensure complete adherence with regulatory policies and protocols to ensure transplant recipient safety.
• Operates without management oversight in the field and is able to resolve complex surgical, procurement, and regulatory concerns independently.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor degree in health related field or an equivalent degree/diploma/certification in an allied health field
• A minimum of: 3-4 years of relevant clinical and surgical experience, 3 years of mechanical perfusion experience
• Minimum: Valid driver’s license, Certified Transplant Preservationist (CTP), Completed DNWest Scrub Technician competency course or Certified Surgical Technician (CST)