Bone Marrow Transplant Coordinator

Job Description

The Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Coordinator is responsible for coordination of the evaluation and preparation of patients for Hematopoietic Stem Cell (HSC) transplantation, cellular therapies, and long-term management of patients post-treatment. The BMT Coordinator is responsible for coordinating patient care across multiple areas –the outpatient clinics, the inpatient nursing unit and the community – in order to provide continuity of patient care across settings.The BMT Coordinator is also expected to serve as a clinical resource for other team members, patients/family/caregivers, referring case managers and community clinicians. Although supervision and direction are provided by the Sr. Director, Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program and physicians, the BMT Coordinator has wide latitude in decision making within written organizational and department policies and principles (i.e. Delegation Protocols and Clinical Program SOP Manual).

Responsibilities

• Coordinates and promotes the clinical activities of adult autologous and allogeneic HSC transplantation, and other cellular therapies.
• Schedule patient appointments with referring physicians, obtaining necessary demographic, financial and medical information. Provide written notification of appointment to both patient and referring physician.
• Conduct pre-treatment interviews with prospective transplant/cellular therapy patients and families. Interpret eligibility criteria for patients, families, physicians and outside agencies. Obtain medical and social histories.
• Conduct donor searches and interpret Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) testing results for recipients and donors including presence of recipient HLA antibodies. With the HLA staff and medical team, help identify the best donors for patients.
• Schedule and coordinate pre-treatment testing of potential HSCT/cellular therapy candidates and/or donors. Provide written notification of testing schedule to patient/caregiver.
• Conduct pre-treatment evaluation of donors with the provider and educate regarding collection method.
• Secure insurance approval for all services scheduled, including transplant and cellular therapies. Prepare letter of medical necessity and pre-treatment evaluation results and submit to insurer. Work closely with Transplant Financial Coordinators and Case Managers to ensure insurance authorization is obtained for all transplants and cellular therapies.
• Prepare and analyze pre-treatment clinical data and collaborate with other medical personnel in preparation of patients and families for transplantation and cellular therapies.
• Educate patients and families/caregivers and donors regarding all aspects of transplantation/cellular therapy and serve as their advocate.
• Contribute to the collaborative development of the weekly transplant admission schedule, taking into account each patient's priority status as well as the availability of the Operating Rooms, Infusion Center, Radiation Oncology, Cell Processing Laboratory, nursing units and medical staff.
• Participate in the HSCT patient care conferences, working closely with the outpatient/inpatient medical, nursing and support staff personnel.
• Provide back-up support to peers (BMT coordinators).
• Provide telephone consultation and follow-up support to patients and their families. This requires the ability to recognize and assess patient problems and symptoms, apply appropriate medical interventions in compliance with written transplant/cellular therapy protocols and interpreting these to community physicians and health professionals involved in the care of transplant patients.
• Assist BMT Social Worker with completion and forwarding of insurance and disability forms for HSCT patients.
• Document appropriately in EPIC.
• Provide consultation to UTHSA Medical Faculty, other physicians, nurses and other health care professionals who provide health care to HSC transplant or cellular therapy patients.
• Provide patient status reports to community and referring physicians and third-party payors.
• Collaborate in the development and update of protocols and guidelines for the Clinical Program SOP Manual.
• Collaborate with HSCT/cellular therapy team members in the development of standardized treatment/admission orders and patient care protocols.
• Along with other Coordinators, develop, implement and evaluate comprehensive patient education literature and programs.
• Participate in the development and execution of quality improvement programs and projects.
• Provide program guidance to other professionals and staff within the HSCT/Cellular Therapy Program.
• Support the enrollment of transplant and cellular therapy patients in clinical trials by working collaboratively with the Research Coordinators.
• Foster continued BMT and cellular therapy research by complying with requests for patient schedules that accommodate research trials and providing data, as needed.
• Complete training required by the Mays Cancer Center and consent patients to trials involving the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR).
• Complete paper or electronic data reporting forms for the CIBMTR and the National Marrow Donor program as needed.
• Participate in teaching activities within UTHSA for interdisciplinary team members and students and in the community for professional groups and referring practices.
• Assure appropriate orientation and training for new transplant coordinators.
• Maintain knowledge of current practices in transplantation/cellular therapy, oncology and hematology, including changes in SOPs, FACT standards (Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy), workflows, guidelines, etc.
• Identify professional strengths and areas for growth and demonstrate professional development in formal and informal learning experiences.
• Participate in professional organizations in the area of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation/cellular therapy and other areas of professional interest.
• Participate in local, regional and national conferences on HSC transplantation or cellular therapies.
• Return telephone inquiries for patient referrals and information inquiries.
• Forward letter of medical necessity and supporting pre transplant/cellular therapy evaluation results to third party payors within 24 hours of completion of pre-treatment evaluation and/or at least 7-10 calendar days prior to planned start of treatment. Secure insurance approval prior to every transplant or cellular therapy.
• Collaborate weekly to provide HSCT team and allied health professionals of treatment schedule.
• Provide HSCT or cellular therapy information and consultation
• Attend SOP Manual development meetings and provide updates to SOPs within timeframes set by the team.
• Participate in ongoing discussions regarding standardized orders and treatment protocols.
• Maintain list of educational activities on a yearly basis.
• Attend and participate in discussions/tasks of the HSCT Performance Improvement Committee and monthly staff meetings/protocol discussions.
• Performs other job-related duties assigned
  
  

Qualifications

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited School of Nursing required
• Master's degree in Nursing preferred
  
  

License And Certification

• Nursing\RN - Registered Nurse - State Licensure And/Or Compact State Licensure Upon Hire Required
• Certification as a Blood and Marrow Transplant Certified Nurse (BMTCN) or a Certified Hematopoietic Transplant
  
  

Required Skills

Coordinator (CHTC) Upon Hire Preferred

Two (2) years of clinical experience as an RN caring for acute and chronically ill adults and/or children required~Two (2) years of experience in Blood and Bone Marrow Transplant or Hematology preferred~Two (2) years of experience with cli