In-House Family Care Coordinator

Sierra Donor Services (SDS) is looking for a dynamic and enthusiastic team member to join us to save lives!! Our mission at SDS is to save lives through organ and tissue donation, and we want professionals on our team that will embrace this important work!! We want people to join our team in the role of In-house Family Care Coordinator with previous experience with families, counseling, bereavement and/or crisis intervention. This position will be the onsite In-house Family Care Coordinator at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital to facilitate all aspects of making organ donation happen.

SUMMARY FUNCTION:

The In-house Family Care Coordinator is responsible for providing support for organ donation activities within the assigned facility/facilities to maximize opportunities for organ donation. Provides consistency and promotes trust in the donation process by ensuring excellent donor evaluation, management, and organ yield.

Works with donor hospital personnel, physicians, and Organ Recovery Coordinators (ORC's) or Donation Coordinators (DCs) to obtain organ and tissue authorization. Must utilize consistent communication and empathy for both the donor family and potential transplant recipients. Extensive on-call services and call duties are required. May assist with the bereavement program and provide care to both donor and non-donor families as applicable.

COMPANY OVERVIEW AND MISSION

Sierra Donor Services is a designated organ procurement organization (OPO) within the state of California - and is a member of the DCI Donor Services family.

For over four decades, DCI Donor Services has been a leader in working to end the transplant waiting list. Our unique approach to service allows for nationwide donation, transplantation, and distribution of organs and tissues while maintaining close ties to our local communities.

DCI Donor Services operates three organ procurement/tissue recovery organizations: New Mexico Donor Services, Sierra Donor Services, and Tennessee Donor Services. We also maximize the gift of life through the DCI Donor Services Tissue Bank and Sierra Donor Services Eye Bank.

Our performance is measured by the way we serve donor families and recipients. To be successful in this endeavor is our ultimate mission. By mobilizing the power of people and the potential of technology, we are honored to extend the reach of each donor's gift and share the importance of the gift of life.

With the help of our employee-led strategy team, we will ensure that all communities feel welcome and safe with us because we are a model for fairness, belonging, and forward thinking.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Provides extensive on call services to obtain authorization for organ and tissue donation. On-call responsibilities may be affected by increased donor activity, staffing shortages, etc. Facilitates the authorization process for potential organ and tissue donor families prior to, during and after death declaration.
2. Evaluates potential donors. Assesses potential donor families, obtains appropriate authorization for donation, conducts Medical/Social History interview, and assists donor families through identification of potential end of life decisions, attending family meetings and providing donation information as needed. Responsible for medical management of donors prior to recovery activities. Directs the placement of anatomical gifts as necessary. Provides transplant surgeons with information necessary to determine appropriate recipients. Coordinates and assists in the surgical recovery of organs and perioperative management of the donor when necessary.
3. Provides support to Hospital Development Coordinator, in the assigned facility, to identify formal and informal leaders, assesses their respective roles, degree of influence and needs. Works collaboratively with these leaders and utilizes their expertise to improve and promote donation. Assists in policy and procedure development. Functions as an expert clinical resource for the hospital regarding organ and tissue donation.
4. Will visually assess 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. In the event of neurological deterioration and/or cardiac cessation, provides education to the potential donor family to include signs and symptoms of brain death, the process of diagnosing brain death, or cardiac cessation and withdrawal of support. As appropriate, discusses organ Family Care Coordinator and tissue donation opportunities with the potential donor family with the goal being to obtain authorization for donation.
5. In the event the potential donor stabilizes and is no longer considered a potential organ donor, establishes an appropriate support system in collaboration with the health care staff, brings closure to the relationship with the family and returns if needed or requested.
6. Provides appropriate information for the bereavement program to all potential organ and tissue donor families who wish to participate. As appropriate, provides a follow-up letter to donor families. Facilitates donor family and recipient communication in accordance with company policy and procedure.
7. Performs other duties as assigned.

PHYSICAL TRAITS: Walks, stands and sits. Must drive to on call assignments. Communicates verbally and in writing with donor families, hospital personnel and physicians.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education Required: RN/PA/Paramedic or related health care degree or licensure or BA/BS preferred and equivalent work experience. OPO experience.

Experience: Two to four years' Healthcare experience with families, counseling, bereavement and/or crisis intervention preferred. Acute care social worker experience strongly desired.

Licenses/ Certifications: Valid driver license with ability to pass MVR underwriting requirements.

Computer Skills: Working knowledge of computers and basic data entry skills required.