Independent Living Donor Advocate - Baroness Hospital - Full-time

Erlanger Health System•Chattanooga, TN

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Transplant programs are required to identify an independent advocate for living donors. This is a person with a good understanding of transplantation whose sole purpose is to promote the best interest of the potential living donor, advocate for the rights of the potential living donor, and assist the potential living donor in obtaining and understanding information regarding the consent process, the evaluation process, the surgical procedure, and the benefit and need for follow-up in six months, one year and two years post donation. The Independent Living Donor Advocate (ILDA) functions independently from the transplant candidate's team. The ILDA provides a wide array of services to living donors and their families throughout the donor continuum. The role of the donor advocate is to represent, advise and support the donor, protect and promote the interests of the donor, and respect the donor's decisions. The advocate conducts phone screenings and assessments of all potential living donors, assesses and affirms aspects of informed consent, and provides supportive services throughout the donation process. This position collaborates closely with other organ donation team members to provide candidacy recommendations and promote positive psychosocial outcomes for living donors. Along with other members of the transplant team, the advocate assists in the long-term psychosocial and resource management of patients after donation. Within that responsibility is the expectation that patient's health and psychosocial needs will be monitored across the total health care continuum from the community to the transplant office, the outpatient clinic, the inpatient unit and back to the community. This position functions as a liaison to the transplant team, to ensure the team is adequately informed of any identified risks associated with donation and assists with weighing the magnitude of the risk.

Requirements

Associate's degree in medical field required.
Knowledge of the living organ donation, transplantation, medical ethics, and informed consent.
Understanding of the potential impact of family and other external pressures on the prospective living donor's decision whether to donate and the ability to discuss these issues with the donor.
Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
Ability to provide empathy in difficult interpersonal situations.
Ability to maintain confidentiality with sensitive information or issues in a confidential and respectful manner.
Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, multi-task, and meet deadlines.
Ability to work effectively with individuals at all levels of the organization.
Knowledge of principles and practices of customer service and telephone courtesy.
Knowledge of Windows-based office software, computers, and operating system.
The ability to provide empathy and compassion.
The ability to defuse stressful situations.

Nice To Haves

RN or RD licensure preferred.
Renal or Transplant Experience
Living Organ Donation
Medical Ethics
Informed Consent
Bilingual skills are a plus
Transplant/renal specific certification

Responsibilities

Promote the best interest of the potential living donor.
Advocate for the rights of the potential living donor.
Assist the potential living donor in obtaining and understanding information regarding the consent process, the evaluation process, the surgical procedure, and the benefit and need for follow-up in six months, one year and two years post donation.
Provide a wide array of services to living donors and their families throughout the donor continuum.
Represent, advise and support the donor.
Protect and promote the interests of the donor.
Respect the donor's decisions.
Conduct phone screenings and assessments of all potential living donors.
Assess and affirm aspects of informed consent.
Provide supportive services throughout the donation process.
Collaborate closely with other organ donation team members to provide candidacy recommendations and promote positive psychosocial outcomes for living donors.
Assist in the long-term psychosocial and resource management of patients after donation.
Monitor patient's health and psychosocial needs across the total health care continuum.
Function as a liaison to the transplant team.
Ensure the team is adequately informed of any identified risks associated with donation.
Assist with weighing the magnitude of the risk.