Job Description

At Northwestern Medicine, every patient interaction makes a difference in cultivating a positive workplace. This patient-first approach is what sets us apart as a leader in the healthcare industry. As an integral part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to join our quest for better healthcare, no matter where you work within the Northwestern Medicine system. At Northwestern Medicine, we pride ourselves on providing competitive benefits: from tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to 401(k) matching and lifecycle benefits, we take care of our employees. Ready to join our quest for better?

Job Description

The Organ Recovery Surgical Coordinator reflects the mission, vision, and values of Northwestern Memorial HealthCare, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

The Organ Recovery Surgical Coordinator , under supervision of the Transplant Surgeon or Fellow and with independent decision-making, attends and participates in the procurement of organs to be transplanted, is responsible for the management of the post-procurement organ to be transplanted, with or without organ perfusion technology. Possesses specific knowledge of organ transplantation, including organ preservation, including rate and induction of cooling, actual storage hypothermia temperature, oxygenation, flow and pressure rates. Primary function is on-call management of transplant organ perfusion via any of multiple technologies appropriate and available for the procured organ. Coordinates the organ recovery as needed, which involves communicating with the transplant surgeon(s), Transplant Nurse Coordinators, fellows, transportation, OR and OPO representative to streamline the procurement process. Responsible for administrative and regulatory functions of assigned area, under the supervision of the manager.

Responsibilities:

• Attends organ procurements at local donor hospitals, and participates in the surgical recovery process of the deceased donor in preparation for transplantation
• In addition to transplant organ perfusion, is responsible for coordination and management of Normothermic Regional Perfusion in conjunction with the Organ Procurement Organization (OPO).
• Machine organ perfusion is used to preserve donated organs outside of the body.
  • Technology includes hypothermic organ perfusion, normothermic organ perfusion of the organs and deceased donor normothermic regional perfusion
• On-call and Fly-out coverage to support organ perfusion and procurement operational needs
• Responsible for setting up, operating and maintaining complex perfusion equipment.
• Provide close monitoring as needed of the procured organ during time on pump prior to transplantation of the organ.
• Primary focus is on organ procurements completed through Gift of Hope Organ Procurement Organization.
• Under the supervision of a surgeon, will have clinical management of Organ perfusion technology, maintenance of perfusion equipment and oversight and responsibility for the organ placed on perfusion equipment
  • Coordinate with other team members for smooth organ recovery process
  • Monitor adherence to protocols and determine perfusion case completion
  • Follow OPTN packaging procedures and prepare surgical area for next perfusion procedure
  • Assist transplant surgeons in post-recovery logistics and recovered organ transportation safety
  • Scrub in and assist clinical team with back benching preparation to ensure donor organs are prepared for transplantation
  • Tasks such as assisting in surgeries, managing organ packaging, maintaining perfusion equipment, and ensuring protocol adherence require independent decision-making.
  • Works in collaboration with the surgeon and health care team to achieve optimal patient outcomes
  • Practices at the direction of the surgeon and does not concurrently function as a scrub person
  • Takes oncall responsibilities for deceased donor organ offers, and works with the Transplant Surgeon Coordinate recovery process with other Northwestern Medicine transplant staff members and host OPO.
    • Coordinate and monitor donor surgical recovery in the operating room.
    • Consult and discuss organ viability with on call transplant surgeon.
    • Complete and maintain all data forms required for recovery and transplant services as appropriate.
    • Remain updated on UNOS, OPO and NMHC policies.
• Additional responsibilities include assisting with living donor organ packaging as needed, implant into transplant recipient: Provides coverage for transplant surgeries in emergent situations, such as multi-organ availability, Kidney Paired donation, other unavailability due to illness, living donor recoveries, or other situations.
• Escalates problems to the manager or surgeon as appropriate.
• Commitment to team development, communication and quality improvement throughout the procurement process.
• Owner of documentation and data collection of perfusion cases
• Utilizes recognized expert sources and incorporates appropriate research and related literature into practice.
• Integrates theoretical knowledge base and clinical expertise in decision making.
• Attend staff meetings and provide input, as needed, into operational, clinical and regulatory development plans
• Environment of Care Responsibilities:
  • Demonstrates clinical expertise and in-depth knowledge in surgical activities
  • Recognizes safety hazards and initiates appropriate corrective action
  • Applies principles of asepsis and infection control in a skillful manner
  • Applies knowledge of surgical anatomy, physiology, and operative technique relative to operative procedures
  • Provides homeostasis by clamping blood vessels, coagulating bleeding points, ligating vessels, and by other means as directed by the surgeon
  • Provides exposure through appropriate use of instruments, retractors, suctioning, and sponging techniques.
  • Handles tissue as directed by the surgeon during the operative procedure
  • Performs wound closure as directed by the surgeon; utilizes appropriate techniques to assist with closure of body planes.
• Research responsibilities as directed by Transplant Surgeon:
  • Conduct clinical research studies relevant to organ perfusion
  • Selection of appropriate test methodologies, verification of procedures and establishing performance characteristics
  • Assist in the support and development of abstracts and research projects.
  • Design research protocols with scientific knowledge to meet individual study needs
  • Perform pre-clinical studies involving murine, porcine or ovine models
  • Ensure compliance with all quality and safety requirements
  • Organization of animal studies, conducting experiments, data collection and analysis
  • Prepare abstracts, scientific reports, presentations, publication of results
  • Develop, implement, verify, record new procedures and protocols in the lab
  • Standardize and establish new published procedures
  • Independently reproduce, evaluate, research and improve currently used techniques
  • Evaluate innovative techniques

AA/EOE

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Qualifications

Required:

• Minimum Bachelor’s of Science degree in healthcare-related subject (such as Nursing or Advanced Practice Provider)
• Documentation of advanced-level expertise related to the defined specialty area, such as First Assist certificate, Registered Nurse licensure, Advanced Practice Provider licensure; or equivalent work experience, certification or licensure.
• Minimum of two years of experience in organ procurement or surgical experience.
• Minimum of two years in a transplant center.
• Demonstrated computer skills.
• Excellent interpersonal verbal communication skills.
• Excellent problem solving skills.

Preferred:

• Organ Recovery surgical Experience.
• Documentation of participating in a minimum of 100 surgical cases within the defined specialty area
• Knowledge of pertinent regulatory requirements (UNOS/OPTN, CMS).
  • Graduate degree in science, healthcare management or related field. 
  • Minimum of 5 years related clinical experience
• 5+ years of experience in the role of first assistant and/or foreign trained physician or APP with surgical experience
• Licensed to practice in this country is unnecessary

Additional Information

Northwestern Medicine is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.

If we offer you a job, we will perform a background check that includes a review of any criminal convictions. A conviction does not disqualify you from employment at Northwestern Medicine. We consider this on a case-by-case basis and follow all state and federal guidelines.

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