Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Job Summary: Heart transplant coordinators coordinate heart transplantation (heart-kidney) of all pediatric and adult organ recipients and ventricular assist device. The heart transplant coordinator is a primary and key member of a multidisciplinary team responsible to coordinate and organize the care of the transplant and patient and provides follow-up and care throughout the continuum of care including pre-transplant, transplant admission, post-transplant phases, admission, follow-up. Educate patients, families and other care givers to the unique aspects of transplantation including; organ donation, pre transplant care, peri transplant care and post-transplant / follow up care. S/he is a clinician, educator, investigator, consultant and leader. S/he makes clinical judgments based upon a synthesis of current research, concepts, principles, theories and outcomes to solve complex problems. The transplant coordinator serves to educate medical professionals to unique aspects of transplantation including; organ donation, pre transplant care, peri transplant care and post-transplant / follow up care. Maintain regulatory integrity and adherence to established regulations throughout all processes. As an integral member of the larger multidisciplinary team, the transplant coordinator contributes to excellence in patient care, research teaching and in providing leadership to the organization.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

CRITICAL THINKING, TIME MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS ARE ESSENTIAL. ABILITY TO WORK AND THRIVE AS A KEY PART OF A DYNAMIC MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM, WITH STRONG PRESENTATION AND DECISION MAKING SKILLS. KNOWLEDGE OF HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY TRENDS, MEDICAL PROCEDURES, PATIENT ASSESSMENT, AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS. WRITTEN AND ORAL COMMUNICATION IS ESSENTIAL, THE ABILITY TO PRESENT EDUCATION MATERIALS TO MANY TYPES OF AUDIENCES. ATTENTION TO DETAILS, EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AND DOCUMENTATION WITH NUMEROUS PHYSICIAN, ORGAN PROCUREMENT ORGANIZATION, OPERATING ROOM (OR), INTENSIVE CARE UNIT (ICU) AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT (ED) STAFF, THE PATIENT AND PATIENT FAMILY ARE REQUIRED.

Responsibilities

Clinical Practice:

• Provides daily clinical assessment of transplant patients throughout all phases of care, demonstrating critical thinking skills and functioning with a high level of autonomy. Participates in clinical management of pre-, peri-, and post- transplant patients in collaboration with the physicians.
• Coordinates evaluation process for pre-transplant (referral) and evaluation patients to ensure effective use of hospital and clinical resources.
• Assesses post-transplant graft function and general health status and collaboratively determines need for additional assessment or intervention.
• Facilitates the scheduling of studies or procedures for diagnostic purposes utilizing fiscal responsibility for patient and hospital costs.
• Participates in the development and implementation of policies, protocol and standards of care for the transplant patients collaborating with the multidisciplinary team.
• Assists nurses and other staff to access, plan, implement and evaluate the care of the transplant.
• Monitors the process and outcomes of routine care to determine quality outcomes and performance improvement processes to promote efficient, cost effective, and quality care
• Provides on-call coverage, including coordination of activities prior to transplant and as medical triage for outpatients in collaboration with the physician/provider on-call.
• Coordinates transplantation processes when a donor is available (24 hours/7 days a week) including communication between physicians, organ procurement organizations, patient/family and medical teams including; ED, medical/surgical unit, ambulatory, ICU, blood bank, and histocompatibility laboratory.
• Reviews patient's medical care including lab and procedural results review, accurate maintenance of medication reconciliation, assessment of patient issues and triage care with transplant providers, while demonstrating a complete commitment to the overall welfare of the patient.
• Completes necessary documentation according to regulatory requirements per centers for Medicare and MEDICAID (CMS), the united network for organ sharing (UNOS), and the joint commission.
• Communicates in a timely manner with the multidisciplinary team and patients/family regarding all care issues.
• Collaborates effectively with all multidisciplinary team members and all care teams/disciplines involved with care of the transplant patient.
• Maintains patient transplant record with current data to facilitate communication.
• Plans nursing care and medical procedures with fiscal responsibility by working collaboratively with transplant administrators, financial coordinators, Health System utilization review and third-party case managers.

Teacher/educator:

• Educates potential transplant recipient, their families and care givers throughout the continuum of care. Educates transplant recipients to ensure maximum outcomes.
• Develops patient education materials or identifies external resources that are appropriate for the patient education in all phases of transplantation care.
• Educates nurses and other multidisciplinary care team members including community partners about patient care issues to promote positive outcomes for transplant patients.
• Provides education and consultation about transplantation and organ donation for the community at large.
• Serves as a resource person/preceptor in organ transplant support for graduate and undergraduate nursing programs.
• Participates or leads team conferences, rounds or meetings in relation to care of the transplant patient or program issues.

Research utilization and scholarly inquiry:

• Interprets research and published data to nursing staff and colleagues concerning current issues in transplantation including those of a clinical, legal, ethical and economic nature
• Incorporates research relating to the care of the transplant patient into evidence-based practice while collaboratively determining appropriateness with the medical team.
• Identifies areas for study and participates in and/or designs and conducts research.

Consultant:

• Serves as a consultant to nurses and other health care professionals regarding the care of the organ transplant
• Advises referring physicians/nurses in the care of the patient in collaboration with the surgical and medical teams.
• Serves as a community consultation resource regarding transplantation, organ donation, and ventricular assist device.
• Consults with unit leadership to resolve issues relating to transplant patients.
• Assures that all transplant patients have an identified PCP, the physician receives correspondence and educational materials on their patients.

Professional leadership and development:

• Role models advanced practice professional nursing through conduct, appearance, communication, mutual respect, leadership, ethical decision-making, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Communicates effectively to maintain positive working relationships and achieve desired outcomes.
• Supports and participates in the strategic plan for university transplant, UMMC, nursing and ancillary support services.
• Participates in university transplant departmental committees and hospital-wide committees or task forces or meetings as indicated.
• Participates in organ transplant program planning.
• Demonstrates responsibility for the professional practice through active participation in professional organizations, continuing education, and active participation in departmental meetings/education opportunities.
• Enhances the body of knowledge in nursing, solid organ transplantation, through exchange of ideas and knowledge using venues such as posters, newsletters, presentations and publications.
• The duties listed are general in nature and are examples of the duties and responsibilities performed and are not meant to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Management retains the right to add or change duties at any time.

Physical and Environmental Demands
Requires occasional exposure to unpleasant or disagreeable physical environment such as high noise level and exposure to heat and cold, occasional exposure to biohazardous conditions such as risk of radiation exposure, blood borne pathogens, fumes or airborne particles, and/or toxic or caustic chemicals which mandate attention to safety considerations, occasional working hours significantly beyond regularly scheduled hours, occasional travelling to offsite locations, occasional activities subject to significant volume changes of a seasonal/clinical nature, constant work produced subject to precise measures of quantity and quality, occasional bending, occasional lifting and carrying up to 25 pounds, occasional crouching/stooping, occasional driving, occasional pushing/pulling, occasional reaching, constant sitting, frequent standing, occasional twisting, and constant walking. (occasional-up to 20%, frequent-from 21% to 50%, constant-51% or more)

Education and Experience: One (1) year of nursing experience in an intensive care environment or related nursing experience. BSN preferred. Transplant experience preferred.

Certifications, licenses or registration required:

Valid RN license. BLS and ACLS (Adult) or PALS (Pediatric) required within 3 months of employment. Certified clinical transplant coordinator (CCTC) preferred within 3 years of employment.

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