Cardiac Transplant Coordinator

Yale New Haven Health•New Haven, CT

About The Position

The Clinical Coordinator provides a comprehensive program of healthcare services for the heart failure/transplant cardiology patient population. The Clinical Coordinator will collaborate with nursing staff and medical staff in both the outpatient and inpatient setting in order to provide an effective patient care program. The Clinical Coordinator will collaborate with primary nurses and medical staff on an ongoing basis and is accountable to patients, nursing, and medical staff and hospital administration for the delivery of quality patient care.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Nursing
Two (2) or more years clinical nursing experience in intensive care unit, cardiac step-down unit or actual experience in organ transplantation is highly desirable.
Excellent basic nursing and medical knowledge with clinical skills and judgement.
Possesses analytical skills to evaluate care needs, ability to gather relevant clinical data, performs thorough physical exams and possesses excellent interpersonal skills, communication and leadership activities and exhibits good judgement and tact dealing with patient's families .

Nice To Haves

actual experience in organ transplantation is highly desirable

Responsibilities

Coordinates evaluation process for patients referred for cardiac transplantation utilizing fiscal responsibility in regard to patient and hospital costs.
Evaluates patients as candidates for transplantation. Assesses and identifies physical, emotional, psychological and social issues of complex patients with advanced heart failures.
Develops and maintains clinical files of patients evaluated and/or listed for cardiac transplantation. Interfaces with insurance carriers in an effort to ascertain for each patient a seamless transition from the pre-op to post transplant phase.
Participates in interdisciplinary medical transplant rounds held weekly to discuss the current status and plan of care for all patients currently in-house on the medical service.
Responsible for creating the meeting agenda and individual informational packets for the attendees of the weekly multidisciplinary team rounds
Collaborates with nurse managers, primary nurses, and medical staff to plan, implement and evaluate changes in practice and health care delivery on inpatient and outpatient units.
Participates in the development of both formal and informal educational programs.
Participates in hospital wide educational programs.
Coordinates the transplantation process when a donor is available including communication between physicians, local organ procurement organization, patient/families and the medical team involved including OR, CTICU, CCU, step-down units, blood bank and the histocompatibility lab.
Communicates with multidisciplinary team members, patients and families in a timely manner in regard to patient care/issues. Consults with unit leadership to resolve issues relating to the transplant patient. Communicates effectively to maintain positive working relationships and achieve desired outcomes .
Assesses post-transplant organ function and general health status and collaboratively determines need for additional assessment or intervention.
Assists nurses and other staff to assess, plan, implement and evaluate care of the transplant patient
Collaborates with care coordinator and other team members in coordinating discharge plans for patients post-transplant
Participates in the development and implementation of protocol and standards of care for the transplant patient in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team
Educates patients along the continuum to assist understanding of processes and procedures surrounding pre-and post-transplant issues.
Prepares recipient for discharge via intensive interval teaching.
Refers patients or families for assistance utilizing health system and community resources as appropriate.
Completes necessary documentation according to the United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS) guidelines including listing, status change (within a critical timeline), and post-transplant follow-up information. Responsible for any and all patient notifications as per UNOS policy.