Referral Responder (Paramedic or Respiratory Therapist) - Atlanta, GA Area

LifeLink Foundation•Norcross, GA

13d•Onsite

About The Position

The Referral Responder is a clinical referral management professional who supports LifeLink Foundation’s mission by evaluating, coordinating, and progressing potential organ and tissue donor referrals within the service area. The role receives and responds to donor referrals, reviews medical records, gathers and documents clinical and prognostic information, and coordinates with hospital teams so potential donors are evaluated consistently and promptly. The Referral Responder works in accordance with organizational goals, regulatory requirements, and performance standards, collaborating with LifeLink leadership and hospital partners on timely referral practices, escalation, communication, and respectful, family-centered processes that offer the legal next of kin the option of donation under applicable law, hospital policy, and LifeLink standards. The position includes hospital-based referral screening and case coordination, clinical information review and documentation, support for donation pathways including donation after circulatory death (DCD), communication with clinicians and families, and coordination with LifeLink teams and external partners. The role also supports hospital education, specimen collection workflows, donor-record maintenance, quality improvement activities, and related administrative responsibilities. The position serves hospitals in the Atlanta, Georgia area and is primarily hospital-based, with local and statewide travel. The schedule consists of 24-hour shifts approximately 10 days per month, with rotating shifts and on-call demands that may include nights, weekends, and holidays. Work involves emotionally and physically demanding end-of-life circumstances, frequent movement between hospital units and workspaces, extensive communication, and potential exposure to healthcare hazards requiring appropriate safety protocols and PPE.

Requirements

Minimum of an associate degree in a clinical discipline, paramedic certification, a bachelor’s degree in a related field, or an equivalent combination of clinical/donation experience demonstrating competency in medical record review, clinical communication, and acute-care decision support.
Minimum of two years of relevant clinical or donation-focused experience involving medical record review, patient assessment, clinical communication, and time-sensitive coordination.
Strong communication skills and demonstrated ability to collaborate with hospital clinicians and support families through sensitive interactions.
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and perform routine physical tasks associated with field-based clinical work.
Ability to work independently in a field-based environment while remaining aligned with centralized operations and escalation pathways.
Ability to work a rotating schedule and respond to time-sensitive operational demands.
Valid driver’s license, good driving record, and ability to meet LifeLink driving requirements.

Nice To Haves

Experience in ICU/ED, rapid response, transport, respiratory therapy, paramedicine, or OPO referral intake/donor management.

Responsibilities

Maintain professional conduct and develop collaborative relationships aligned with LifeLink’s mission, vision, and values.
Serve as a visible clinical partner to hospitals, exercising discretion, sensitivity, and sound judgment in high-acuity and emotionally complex environments.
Collaborate with LifeLink teams and external partners to support timely referral response, communication, and case progression.
Receive, triage, and manage hospital referrals; screen for donor potential and complete time-sensitive evaluations for organ and/or tissue donation suitability.
Identify and reinforce clinical triggers and escalation thresholds; provide real-time feedback and initiate consultation or next-step planning when conditions may affect donor acceptance or case direction.
Obtain, interpret, and document potential donors’ medical and social histories, including organ- and tissue-specific factors and behavioral risk indicators.
Review and synthesize medical records, including history of present illness, past medical history, malignancy history, treatments, interventions, and diagnostics, and communicate findings to appropriate LifeLink clinical resources.
Evaluate and support donation pathways, including DCD screening and progression, consistent with LifeLink standards and hospital processes.
Apply knowledge of legal and hospital requirements for neurologic and circulatory death declaration, critical illness, and neurologic death to support escalation and donor-management planning.
Communicate with hospital clinicians about case status, information needs, next steps, and timing.
Identify the patient’s legal next of kin or legally authorized decision-maker in accordance with applicable law and hospital documentation practices.
Assess family dynamics and support needs, including cultural, religious, emotional, and informational needs, and coordinate appropriate LifeLink resources.
Guide facility and LifeLink processes so that a designated requestor seeks authorization or consent under applicable policy and families are offered the option of donation sensitively and with care.
Follow policy and workflow requirements for collecting, labeling, and documenting blood, culture, and typing specimens.
Accurately and promptly enter and maintain donor information, including laboratory results, diagnostics, procedures, risk-screening elements, and referral communications, in the OPO EMR and related systems; comply with privacy, confidentiality, documentation, and record-maintenance standards.
Provide hospital-based education and real-time donation process support with hospital development staff, reinforcing timely referral practices and effective case communication.
Collaborate with Medical Examiner/Coroner offices as applicable regarding death investigations, authorization constraints, and procedural coordination.
Use organizational resources and operational tools, including hospital profiles, responsibly to support referral response and documentation.
Participate in QAPI activities under the OPO QAPI Plan and evaluate personal performance against expectations.
Complete administrative responsibilities and other duties as assigned to support departmental operations, performance, and quality objectives.