Organ Utilization Coordinator

Description and Qualifications

The Organ Utilization Coordinator (OUC) is accountable for overseeing all activities related to the allocation and utilization of organs procured from donors. This multifaceted role includes managing the organ allocation processes for transplantation and for research, surgical team and operating room (OR) scheduling, arranging logistical aspects of organ recovery, facilitating communication among stakeholders, and ensuring thorough organ evaluation and documentation of clinical information.  

The Organ Utilization Coordinator ensures transparent communication with transplant programs, coordinates organ transportation logistics, and collaborates with stakeholders to optimize organ utilization outcomes while upholding regulatory compliance. This position plays a crucial role in optimizing organ utilization and fostering collaboration among stakeholders in the organ donation and transplantation process.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Clinical Responsibilities

• Analyzes clinical information and provides data-driven guidance to Organ Donation Services (ODS) regarding organ suitability.
• Serves as the organ allocation expert and provides critical thinking and decision-making regarding allocation strategy to prevent organ loss.
• Communicates pertinent donor information transparently to transplant programs to safeguard patient safety and maximize organ utilization.
• Allocates abdominal organs in accordance with organizational policies and national regulations, serving as the primary source of donor information throughout the allocation and procurement process.
• Coordinates research allocation and collaborates with ODS and recovery teams to promote research recovery. 
• Arranges ground and air transportation for recovery teams and oversees proper chain of custody for organs, developing case-specific transportation strategies to minimize ischemia time.
• Dispatches Surgical Recovery staff for organ recovery activities and proactively identifies and addresses barriers to organ utilization.
• Collaborates with stakeholders to mitigate risks to organ utilization and escalates high-risk situations as needed.
• Authorizes financial agreements regarding waivers and logistics with transplant centers as necessary to optimize organ utilization.  
• Maintains in-depth knowledge of Organ Procurement & Transplant Network (OPTN) policy and provides guidance to the ODS team to ensure compliance.
• Contributes to case reviews and process improvement programs with the goal of increasing organ utilization.

Collaborative Responsibilities

• Collaborates with transplant partners, ODS and other organ recovery teams to facilitate successful transplant outcomes.
• Regularly attends department meetings.
• Partners with quality assurance, training, and process improvement to enhance OUC team effectiveness and efficiency.
• Assists other staff as appropriate in all aspects of the allocation process and strategies to improve the utilization outcomes.

Supervision

• This position has no formal supervisory responsibilities.

Other Responsibilities

• Ensures timely and accurate completion of donor chart review including closure of Potential Transplant Recipient (PTR) reports and other chart related activities. 
• Participates in timely resolution of non-conformance investigations and development of appropriate corrective and preventative actions. 
• Participates in, and may lead, employee committees and events.

• Complies with applicable laws, regulations, and LifeCenter policies and procedures. 
• Participates in other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES

• A proactive team player who must uphold the core values of the organization; these include integrity, respect, honoring diversity, personal accountability, teamwork, and professional behavior.
• Actively fosters an organizational culture based on collaboration, support, and constructive communication.
• Analytical skills to assess situations, solve problems, and motivate others to continually improve the processes necessary to meet organizational deliverables.
• Ability to identify problems and collaborate with others to solve the problems in a timely and professional fashion.
• Ability to learn new tools, applications, and technologies quickly, easily, and independently.
• This individual must demonstrate operating knowledge of computers and smart phones with a demonstrable, intermediate level skill (at a minimum) with email, Word, Excel, and other comparable software programs.
• Must be compassionate, conscientious, ethical, and possess effective interpersonal skills that allow him/her/them to have effective communication with health care professionals and donor families.
• Must have the ability to keep accurate records, perform calculations, and follow written SOP’s, WI, and guidelines.

BEHAVIORAL REQUIREMENTS

The employee in this position must uphold the core values of LifeCenter; these include:

• Integrity: We are trustworthy, reliable, respectful, and accountable.
• Collaboration: We work in partnership with others, seeking to understand and be understood, and finding common ground and shared goals to build upon together.
• Courage: We take personal responsibility and face challenges head-on.
• Service: Through professionalism and dedication, we honor our commitment to serve others and our obligation to be good stewards of the gift of life.

Physical Activities/Requirements

• This position requires on-call responsibilities and travel may be required; the employee must be prepared to travel by automobile within and outside the LifeCenter service area.
• This position requires ability to effectively operate phones, computers, smart phones, and office equipment.
• The individual must have the ability to communicate clearly using the English language to accurately convey information and be able to hear at normal speaking levels both in person and over the phone.
• Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Requires the ability to work under stress with numerous interruptions, distractions, and changing priorities.
• Must be able to effectively communicate in a variety of environments, both indoor and outdoor, and under a variety of environmental conditions.
• Must have a clear understanding and practice of universal precautions.
• Work is normally performed in an office or home office setting as well as other business environments. Occasionally, working conditions have exposure to bio-hazardous materials.
• The employee is required to move up to 25 pounds with or without assistance.

ANTICIPATED WEEKLY TIME COMMITMENT

This position requires on-call availability, evening, and weekend work.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE & JOB REQUIREMENTS

• 4-year degree in biology or allied health field. Work experience may substitute for education.
• 1-year OPO or transplantation experience preferred
• Requires a valid driver’s license and access to an insured automobile for work-related functions at expected times.
• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination or applicable medical or religious exemption will be required as a condition of employment upon offer. For those that need to complete the vaccination series, start dates will be adjusted.
• Although this position is remote, you must reside in or relocate to an area within LifeCenter's donation service area (dsa) which includes Washington State, Alaska, Northern Idaho and Montana by date of hire.

Benefits and Compensation

LifeCenter Northwest offers medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance, accidental death & dismemberment insurance, long-term disability insurance, and travel accident insurance. Employees have the option of enrolling in the following supplemental or voluntary plans: life insurance, short-term disability, accident insurance, hospital indemnity, critical illness coverage and pet insurance. Employees enrolled in our 403(b) program will receive an employer match of up to 7% after one year, employees are auto enrolled at 3% and may change their enrollment at any time. LifeCenter encourages all employees to find balance and well-being and provides all employees access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and provides a quarterly Wellness Reimbursement. Employees enjoy paid holidays throughout the calendar year and earn 119 hours of PTO annually (to start) as well as Health Time Off hours that is earned 1 hour per 30 worked, paid living donor leave, two weeks paid jury duty leave after 6 months of service, and three weeks of paid parental leave after one year of service is complete. A comprehensive review of benefits can be found at https://lcnw.org/about/employment-opportunities/.

The pay range for this role is provided below. Where a candidate’s compensation falls within this range is based on several bona fide factors such as experience, tenure, and other specialized knowledge. LifeCenter Northwest is committed to providing its employees equitable and competitive compensation.

• OUC I: $75,918 - $110,112
• OUC II: $83,918 - $121,715
• OUC III: $94,560 - $141,840

LifeCenter is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

Salary : $75,918 - $110,112