Referral Specialist

JOB DESCRIPTION - REFERRAL SPECIALIST

Department: Referral Management

Reports to: Director, Organ Procurement Operations

Exemption Status: Exempt

Work Schedule: Full-time

Job Location: Pittsburgh

OSHA Category: Clinical

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

POSITION SUMMARY

The position of Referral Specialist for the Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) is responsible for maximizing the organ referral and evaluation process through the identification and evaluation of each potential donor to ensure optimal outcomes for the donor families and recipients.


SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY

The Referral Specialist reports to CORE's Director, Organ Procurement Operations and is responsible for assessing and determining potential donors to maximize donation opportunities from CORE's region, but also throughout the United States and Canada. They will be responsible for initial intake, assessing organ donor suitability, and enhancing the donation process. They will need to have sound computer knowledge and application. They will be responsible for knowing, and working within, CORE policies and procedures.

The Referral Specialist will be responsible for following the criteria for deployment of the Clinical On-Site Specialist, Designated Requestor, and/or Organ Procurement Coordinator on potential and/or actual organ donors.


The Referral Specialist will be able to provide back-up to the Quality Coordinators in obtaining and reporting culture results to transplant centers.

The Referral Specialist must be available to work both daylight and night shifts. The Shifts will consist of four 12-hour shifts with four days off. Shifts are 7am-7pm and 7pm-7am and will rotate monthly.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate would have some type of medical background with at least one to two years of experience as an EMT-P, LPN, RT, medical scribe, similar role, or previous OPO experience, and some experience with medical terminology. They must have strong communication skills, sound judgment, excellent verbal skills ability to interact and communicate effectively with a wide range of people, including medical staff, hospital personnel and donor families. They also must be skilled in dealing with diverse issues where many problems exist simultaneously and often compete for immediate attention. They must demonstrate a professional commitment to donation and CORE's ability to achieve its mission. They must have the ability to work flexible hours. Shift work is expected. They must complete an extensive six-month training program.

DEGREE OF JOB DIFFICULTY

The degree of difficulty for this job falls into the moderate range. Because of the nature of the information translated to the transplant and donor hospitals, the need for accuracy is critical. Though there are built-in levels of communication and safeguards to prevent inadvertent errors or mistakes that could result in the death of a transplant recipient, attention to details gained through reflective listening is paramount.