Organ Utilization Coordinator

LifeSource; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

PTO

401k matching

Tuition reimbursement

Resiliency coaching

HSA employer contributions

Job summary

LifeSource seeks an Organ Utilization Coordinator to manage organ donation logistics and placement decisions. You will analyze donor data, coordinate with transplant centers, and ensure compliant documentation in EMR.

This role leverages clinical judgment in high-acuity settings to maximize organ utilization. Ideal candidates have emergency medicine or transplant experience, strong communication, and collaboration with OPOs.

Qualifications

• Requires 5 years in emergency, surgical recovery, or transplant responsibilities.
• Experience in organ donation or related industry is preferred.
• Detail oriented with strong organization and decision-making skills.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate organ placement activities and communicate with teams to maximize transplantation opportunities.
• Engage as subject matter expert; document donation activities in EMR per policy.
• Manage 12-hour shift schedule and ensure timely organ recovery logistics.

Skills

Emergency medical background

Communication skills

Analytical thinking

Interpersonal savvy

Education

Paramedic

RN/LPN training

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

LifeSource is hiring an Organ Utilization Coordinator (OUC) to manage logistics for organ donation opportunities. The OUC will be responsible for responding to calls and notifications regarding organ donation placement, executing logistical coordination with stakeholders to optimize donation and transplantation opportunities.

This role is a natural fit for those with clinical backgrounds, such as paramedics, who want to continue making life-saving decisions in high-acuity situations, while expanding their clinical and logistical expertise into organ donation and transplantation. It offers the opportunity to use emergency-response judgment, communication skills, and comfort with time-sensitive coordination to help maximize the gift of donation and improve outcomes for transplant recipients.

In this role, you will engage as an organ donation subject matter expert with local transplant centers by analyzing clinical information related to the potential organ donation and serving as a consultant to these facilities when communicating with other Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs). This includes coordinating and communicating logistics of all activities related to the placement of organs for transplantation ensuring thorough documentation within the electronic medical record (EMR) in accordance with established policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.

As an Organ Utilization Coordinator, you'll advance our lifesaving mission by performing the following duties:

Manage clinical resources to optimize organ donation and transplantation opportunities for local transplant centers, including clinical evaluation, documentation, logistics and communication across multiple internal and external teams.

• Manage the organ placement work system, coordinating clinical resources to optimize organs recovered for transplant and research in accordance with OPTN policy, internal, and external customer requirements.
• Coordinate the functions of the organ allocation work system, ensuring all aspects are performed to optimal levels in adherence with regulatory policies and organizational procedures.
• Manage the evaluation, placement, and coordination of organs for transplant, analyzing clinical data and communicating pertinent donor information to the transplant center program teams to protect patient safety and maximize transplantation.
• Maintain knowledge of the factors used to match organs with patients in need, including but not limited to compatibility of blood type, height, weight, other medical factors, and geography.
• Analyze clinical data and placement trends to guide decision-making on organ suitability.
• Identify potential case-specific barriers, develop strategies to minimize risk and maximize opportunities for organ placement and transplantation, including assisting team members with organ monitoring prior to transportation.
• Communicate appropriate timelines and schedule with relevant team members to ensure effective preparation and timely presence for facilitation of organ recovery, packaging, and transportation responsibilities.
• Coordinate and oversee the chain of custody over transported blood samples, tissue specimens, and recovered organs for transplant or research.
• Effectively communicate relevant donor information to members of the recipient care team or research partners to minimize organ cold ischemia time and ensure improved transplant recipient outcomes.
• Engage as the primary point of contact with UNOS, OPTN, and other hospital, OPO, or transplant center teams.
• Exercise clinical judgment and a fundamental knowledge of organ viability to drive efficient and effective organ placement practices.
• Effectively communicate pertinent donor information to research partners and transplant programs to protect patient safety and maximize organ placement.
• Collaborate with regional transplant physicians, infectious disease specialists, clinical laboratory scientists, transplant nurses, and other OPO teams exhibiting knowledge and understanding of Organ Procurement Transplant Network (OPTN) policies.

Serve as subject matter expert, internally and with external partners, representing clinical knowledge and regulatory expertise on policies, processes and procedures when providing information, support, education, or collaboration.

• Ensure thorough, accurate, and timely documentation of all donation activities into defined systems in accordance with policy and procedure. Acknowledge the necessary information for all stakeholders, including accuracy of documentation for financial purposes.
• Ensure customer requirements, including donor hospital and transplant center team members, are met.
• Maintain awareness and execute collaboration, communication and partnership with funeral directors, medical examiners, eye banks and tissue processors, as appropriate per organ donation case.
• Resolve administrative and logistical changes that arise during the donation and recovery process.
• Monitor and report compliance with OPTN allocation policies and data submission requirement.
• Participate in the development of research organ prioritization algorithms and manage the placement and recovery of research organs and tissues.
• Serve as the allocation policy expert for the organ procurement process and provide guidance as appropriate.
• Participate in performance improvement activities to streamline efficiency, stewardship and effectiveness of organ placements and transplantation.
• Maintain current knowledge of organ procurement and allocation protocols and UNOS policy changes by participating in UNOS education offerings, clinical conferences and continuing medical education.
• Design, facilitate and engage in clinical presentations, education and knowledge sharing with team members, physicians, nurses, and other stakeholders in the donation process.

Work Schedule

• .9 FTE with a variable 12-hour shift schedule that includes days, nights, weekends, and holidays. Occasional overtime may be required.
• This role is located in Minneapolis, MN.

Qualifications

• Requires a combination of education and experience equivalent to 5 years emergency room, emergency medical services, surgical recovery, or transplant responsibilities. (example backgrounds may include Paramedic, RN, LPN, Respiratory Therapists, Surgical Tech, ACLS-certified clinical backgrounds)
• Prefer previous professional experience within the organ, eye, and tissue donation industry. Preferably within an organ allocation work system.
• Detail oriented, highly organized, ability to execute critical thinking and analytical skills to confidently execute reasonable and sound decision making.
• Demonstrated interpersonal savvy capabilities, building, maintaining, motivating, influencing, and achieving cooperation with both internal and external relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to exhibit a high degree of quality, integrity, and honor confidentiality of appropriate information including, but not limited to, personal team member data, organizational operations or work processes, donor and donor family information, contributor details, any financial information and medical or protected health information (PHI) in accordance with HIPAA.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• .9 FTE. Must be able to participate in a variable 12-hour schedule including days, nights, weekends, and holidays. Occasional overtime may be required.
• Rotating 12-hour shifts, primarily a mix of days and nights (5:30am-6pm and 5:30pm-6am). Will be scheduled approximately every 3rd weekend. Two assigned holidays per year.
• Required meetings may be scheduled outside of standard shift hours.
• Team members in OSHA Exposure Category II have limited exposure to bloodborne pathogens or handling materials that could spread infection (one opportunity per month). And/or their position may require interaction with staff in patient or donor areas in a hospital, medical examiner office, funeral home, or clinic setting.
• Must be able follow and complete Category immunization, health screening and background check requirements.

Projected offer rate range: $33-40/hour, based on relevant experience.

Why Join LifeSource

At LifeSource, we’re relentlessly pursuing a day where those in need of a life-saving or life-enhancing organ, eye or tissue transplant receive that gift. By joining the LifeSource team, you will have the chance to positively impact your neighbors in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin – maybe someone in your very own community.

Since 1989, the LifeSource team has worked with our regions’ diverse communities to break down barriers to donation. Bringing a rich diversity of perspectives and experience to our organization at all levels strengthens our ability to serve our community and fulfill our mission. Our values embody how we engage in our work - accountability, adaptability, trust, growth mindset, and kindness. More information on our continued work toward diversity, equity, and inclusion can be found on our website.

We set our team up for success by providing comprehensive on-boarding, as well as on-going personal and career development. Team members are offered traditional benefits such as health, vision, dental, and life insurance, generous PTO, and 401k matching. We also support our team through non-traditional benefits such as tuition reimbursement, resiliency coaching, and HSA employer contributions.

LifeSource is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and welcoming workplace with opportunities for all talent to thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourage BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, veterans, persons with disabilities, members of marginalized communities, and non-traditional applicants to apply.