Family Resource Coordinator

Job Description

Job Description

Donor Network West’s mission is to save and heal lives through organ and tissue donation for transplantation and research.

 

At Donor Network West, we're looking for people who embody our core values: passion, excellence, equity and inclusion, and relationships. We welcome diverse perspectives and foster an environment of collaboration and service.

GENERAL JOB FUNCTION

 

The Family Resource Coordinator works with donor hospital personnel, physicians, and the Donor Network West team to facilitate a donation discussion and the organ and tissue authorization process. The primary responsibility is to initiate the donation discussion and request for organ and tissue donation or notify the Notifying Party of donor designation. The Family Resource Coordinate also immediately responds to donor referrals to assess family needs as requested by the hospital, family and or resource/transplant coordinator. He/she must utilize consistent communication and empathy for both the donor family and potential transplant recipients. The individual must be compassionate, conscientious, and ethical, and must possess strong interpersonal skills which will allow her/him to deal effectively with conflict resolution, donor families in grief/crisis, individuals or groups and a variety of medical professionals. This position requires strong conflict management skills as well as written and verbal communication skill; and an ability to work productively both independently, and as a team participant with accountability to all other team members for meeting agreed upon objectives. 

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Works with Donor Network West staff and hospital staff to ensure that the Authorizing Party is identified per Uniform Anatomical Gift Act guidelines.
• Determine family dynamics and assess the family’s understanding of the patient’s prognosis, when appropriate initiate the donation discussion.
• Initiates the donation discussion and authorization process for potential organ and tissue donor families prior to, during and after death declaration. Provides families with the detailed information required to give legal informed authorization for anatomical donation.
• Responds on site independently and/or in conjunction with assigned staff to all appropriate hospital referrals within designated time outlined per policy and procedure. Initiates frequent huddles with hospital and Donor Network West staff to ensure that the Authorizing Party/Notifying Party is presented the opportunity for donation or donor designation notification in the most appropriate time frame and manner. Access donor registries to determine prior authorization for donation.
• Communicates with the attending physician and other members of the healthcare team to establish rapport and ensure a collaborative planned approach for the donation discussion and authorization process. Will communicate directly with donor families, hospital personnel, physicians and DNW staff.
• Obtains authorization for donation per UAGA and verifies appropriate medical and legal documentation necessary for organ recovery consistent with DNW policy and procedure.
• Completes the Uniform Donor Risk Assessment Interview (UDRAI) with appropriate historian per DNW policy and procedure and obtains follow-up information if required.
• Visually assesses donors, interpret charts, document information and communicate findings.
• Collaborates with hospital and medical staff to provide potential donor families with accurate and timely information regarding the patient’s current clinical course. Maintains communication with hospital staff and attending physician regarding the potential donor family’s understanding of the prognosis and acts as a family advocate to the health care team as necessary.
• Provides education and relevant materials to hospital staff on the authorization and family process as well as the benefits of organ and tissue donation and services provided by Donor Network West to grieving families.
• Provides excellent customer service to internal and external partners.
• Collaborates with hospital staff to provide bereavement support as applicable.
• Collaborates with hospital staff to obtain administrative authorization when appropriate.
• Provides education to hospital staff regarding authorization, family care process and donation process.
• Responsibilities may be affected by increased donor activity. Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Possess knowledge of medical and legal principles of authorization, donor evaluation, and management.
• Has ability to communicate and present information effectively and concisely within a team environment. Has ability to work productively both independently, and as a team participant with accountability to all other team members.
• Proactive team player who must uphold the core values of the organization which include passion, integrity, and team work.
• Has strong conflict management skills as well as excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Multi-lingual skills are beneficial. The most common languages spoken are Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Vietnamese.
• Compassionate, conscientious, and ethical, and must possess strong interpersonal skills which will allow her/him to deal effectively with conflict resolution, donor families in crisis, individuals or groups and a variety of medical professionals.
• Able to work productively both independently, and as a team participant with accountability to all other team members for meeting agreed upon objectives. 
• Maintain strong organizational skills that will allow him/her to assess changing environments establish appropriate priorities, handle highly stressful situations in a calm, mature manner, using sufficient judgment and discretion at all times. 
• This individual must also provide accurate assessments of job performance and recommend changes in policies, procedures, strategies and action plans.
• Thrives in a fast-paced dynamic environment and adjusts to new priorities as required.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• A degree in biologic sciences or social sciences or an equivalent degree/diploma/certification as a Counselor or allied health field or one year equivalent OPO experience.
• At least two years’ of experience in working with families, counseling, bereavement and/or crisis intervention preferred.

Donor Network West takes a market-based approach to pay. All candidates' starting pay will be determined based on job-related skills, experience, qualifications and interview performance.

Our job listings’ compensation ranges include location-based differentials but may not be reflective of a candidate’s final base salary. Location differentials are determined by an employee’s home address, associated market data provided by government reporting and processed by Payroll.

If selected, Donor Network West’s Recruiting & Compensation Team will provide further detail!

Salary data provided by third party sites do not accurately reflect our pay structure.