Independent Living Donor Advocate - Baroness Hospital

Overview

Job Summary: 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.
• Assist the potential living donor in obtaining and understanding information regarding: the consent process, the evaluation process, and the surgical procedure.

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. Respect the donor's decisions.

• Conduct phone screenings and assessments of all potential living donors.
• Assess and affirm aspects of informed consent and provide supportive services throughout the donation process.
• Collaborate with other organ donation team members to provide candidacy recommendations and promote positive psychosocial outcomes for living donors.
• Assist in long-term psychosocial and resource management of patients after donation.
• Monitor patients  health and psychosocial needs across the health care continuum from the community to the transplant office, the outpatient clinic, the inpatient unit and back to the community.
• Act as a liaison to the transplant team to ensure awareness of identified risks associated with donation and assist with weighing the magnitude of the risk.

• Required: Associate s degree in medical field required.
• Preferred: RN or RD licensure preferred.

• Required: Knowledge of living organ donation, transplantation, medical ethics, and informed consent; understanding of the potential impact of family and external pressures on the donor s decision, and ability to discuss these issues with the donor. Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, provide empathy, maintain confidentiality, and manage multiple priorities. Ability to work with individuals at all levels of the organization.
  
  Knowledge of customer service principles, Windows-based software, and the ability to defuse stressful situations.
• Preferred: Renal or transplant experience; living organ donation; medical ethics; informed consent; bilingual skills are a plus.

• Position Requirements: License/Certification/Registration
  
  Required:
  
  Transplant/renal specific certification (preferred)

The advocate conducts phone screenings and assessments of all potential living donors, assesses aspects of informed consent, and provides supportive services throughout the donation process. This position collaborates with other organ donation team members to provide candidacy recommendations and promote positive psychosocial outcomes for living donors. It supports long-term psychosocial and resource management of patients after donation, and monitors health and psychosocial needs across the health care continuum.

The position functions as a liaison to ensure the team is informed of any identified risks and assists with weighing the magnitude of the risk.

Location:

Erlanger Baroness Hospital, Chattanooga, TN

Independent Living Donor Advocate – Baroness Hospital

Standard

Hours:

Regular