Lung Transplant Program Specialist

Overview

As a patient-focused organization, University of Utah Health exists to enhance the health and well-being of people through patient care, research and education. Success in this mission requires a culture of collaboration, excellence, leadership, and respect. University of Utah Health seeks staff that are committed to the values of compassion, collaboration, innovation, responsibility, integrity, quality and trust that are integral to our mission. EO/AA

Under the direction of the RN Nurse Coordinator and Transplant Management, the Transplant Program Specialist proactively collaborates with the Transplant team to establish, coordinate, and perform all administrative duties required to support the team. The Transplant Program Specialist uses critical thinking and advanced problem-solving skills to assist the Transplant RN Coordinators in growing the number of patients listed for transplant in accordance with regulatory requirements from UNOS and CMS. The position operates as the liaison between patient and the Transplant clinical staff in communicating relevant information by telephone and written correspondence. This role is responsible for maintaining the transplant data base, accurate data entry, ongoing training of new staff and keeping up-to-date with the regulatory changes in UNOS and CMS. The Transplant Program Specialist must function independently and possess 1) professional demeanor, 2) exceptional problem-solving skills, 3) a “can-do” work philosophy, and 4) exceedingly positive and compassionate disposition.

Corporate Overview: University of Utah Health is an integrated academic healthcare system with five hospitals including a level 1 trauma center, eleven community health centers, over 1,600 providers, and a health plan serving over 200,000 members. University of Utah Health is nationally ranked and recognized for our academic research, quality standards and overall patient experience. In addition to our clinical delivery system, we have a School of Medicine, School of Dentistry, College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy, and College of Health providing education and training for over 1,250 providers annually. We have over 2 million patient visits annually and research grants exceeding $350 million. University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics represents our clinical operations for the larger health system.

Responsibilities

• Primary intake for all program referrals including assessment of clinical urgency of the referral and identification of key clinical records required for evaluation. Collaborates with Transplant Financial Coordinators to assure appropriate authorization obtained for patients prior to evaluation visit.
• Schedules transplant recipient / donor complex appointments including initial referral, special follow up appointments and medical workup.
• Creates and continually updates new patient charts, referral packets, educational materials and all documentation needed for entire multidisciplinary team.
• Coordinates transplant evaluation testing which may include but not limited to lab, radiology, cardiology testing, pulmonary testing, surgical and medical specialty clinics, social work, psychiatry, palliative, gastroenterology testing and consults, cardiac and pulmonary rehab, physical therapy, home health and other specific consults as appropriate.
• Enters verbal orders, prioritizing orders based on clinical urgency, and assure completion and appropriate follow up by transplant clinician of all orders in EMR and OSH.
• Facilitates scheduling of living and non-related organ donation and transplantation surgeries and any required pre surgery critical validation relating to blood type, serologies, and other key donor / recipient details.
• Conduct UNOS/UNET reviews and assure high % of accuracy with regulatory data submission.
• Receive and oversee completion of FMLA and Disability paperwork for patients and their caregivers.
• Manage program-specific calendars for entire team and patient schedules.
• Participate in outreach activities for each program including educational events, clinics and follow up in sites internal and external to the UUH facility.
• Works as a transplant team liaison with the patient, their family and caregiver, the outside healthcare professionals and ancillary hospital departments.
• Coordinates all educational materials, packets, patient questionnaires, electronic presentations and any other patient-facing material as directed by the RN coordinator.
• Assists in managing clinic flow and conduct of clinic for all recipients and donors including virtual or in-person meet and greets and testing procedures.
• Conducts medication review with patients.
• Collects, maintains and updates all pre- and post- transplant medical records including eHealth and OSH results and documentation, patient health maintenance i