Gift of Hope·Itasca, Illinois
Evaluate hospital referrals for organ and tissue donation potential and coordinate Patient Care Conferences with medical teams. Approach and counsel donor families through the authorization and donation process while maintaining hospital relationships.
Overview Summary Responsible for evaluating hospital referrals for organ/tissue donation potential, and maintaining referrals being followed; participates in Patient Care Conferences; approaches families for donation authorization as needed; supports families during donation process; develops and maintains effective relationships with key hospital staff to educate and maintain the option for organ and tissue donation Compensation range for this position: $71,500 - $80,500 annually Our Benefits In addition to competitive salaries, we offer a comprehensive benefits package: Medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance options for full-time employees Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) plan 403(b) retirement plan with company match Tuition Reimbursement up to the IRS-allowed maximum Personalized learning and educational development opportunities Monthly cell phone and internet stipends Paid Parental Leave Annual Employer-funded Lifestyle Spending Accounts to support wellness needs Support and counseling for personal, work financial or family needs through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and our partnership with Critical Incident Stress Consultants (CISC)
Essential Functions The following essential functions are the basic job duties that an employee must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation. Advance Gift of Hope’s mission, vision and core values: providing compassionate service, contributing to outstanding teams and engaging as one of our passionate people committed to a positive culture that respects the dignity and worth of each individual. Adhere to all policies and procedures in carrying out the responsibilities of this position. Referral Evaluation and Follow-up Respond to dispatches, onsites and phone follow-ups within established timeframes Adhere to dispatch instructions, including HD attachments/special instructions and hospital policy information Conduct evaluations of potential organ and tissue donors through review of hospital records to determine medical eligibility/suitability Review hospital charts and current records of potential donors; document findings and follow-up plans in hospital charts Collaborate with hospital medical team to maximize the donation opportunity by identifying and implementing the next steps Facilitate necessary testing and services, at the direction of the AOC/Medical Director Develop solutions to issues that impede the donation process Coordinate and conduct effective Patient Care Conferences (PCC) with medical team and service lines involved in care of patient; ensure that Gift of Hope and medical team are aligned in goals of care and needs for family support Family Approach Collaborate with hospital staff to provide the optimal setting for approach Develop rapport with patient’s family Compassionately provide information about the benefits of donation Counsel families through donation process Document authorization according to policy Be patient, respectful and compassionate with family’s bereavement and decision-making processes Provide timely follow-up information regarding outcome during the case and post-op Provide appropriate clinical and technical support to hospital staff before, during and after donation process Communicate with Medical Examiner (ME)/Coroner as required Participate in departmental quality assurance initiatives, meetings, educational activities and required training as assigned Make necessary medical record QA corrections as requested Provide real-time education on donation to hospital staff while on-site
Education and Training Required The following identifies the minimum education and training required to perform the essential functions of the job. Minimum of one year in Allied Health, graduate RN, or some previous OPO experience Excellent knowledge of or training in medical terminology required EMT, Paramedic, Firefighter, ER Tech, PT Tech, Palliative Care, Medical Scribe, CNA, Medical Assistant preferred Experience and Skills Required The following indicates the minimum skills and experience required to perform the essential functions of the job. This position requires a highly energetic person who: Compassionate, conscientious and ethical Demonstrate a high level of accountability Possess excellent written and verbal communication skills Ability to work productively and independently Comfortable in the presence of emotional distress, death, and dying Basic computer skills Physical Demands The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Ability to work outside normal business hours Ability to respond to dispatches in a timely manner and arrive to work sites as assigned Ability to function in an office environment and all hospital clinical practice areas Ability to learn and use technology such as computers, mobile devices and related software for communication and documentation Ability to see, hear, speak and communicate effectively Ability to sit or stand for long periods of time Ability to use personal cell phone for business purposes Work Environment The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that will be encountered by an employee while performing the essential functions of the job. On-call schedule of designated 12-hour days (7AM-7PM) that includes some assigned weekends and some holidays; may also include unplanned overtime, as needed. (Three 12-hour shifts, self-scheduling, including 2 weekend days per month and 1 holiday per year) Expectations to utilize a personal cell phone to be accessible outside regular business hours; monthly cell phone stipend available Access to reliable transportation to travel to multiple locations in one day within Illinois and northwest Indiana Hospital clinical environment, including all patient care areas Travel by car and occasionally by plane to hospitals and other meeting locations within Gift of Hope’s service area Occasional travel outside the service area by car or plane to assigned conferences or meetings Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified candidates and does not discriminate with regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, military or veteran status, family medical history or genetic information or any other classification protected by applicable law. All employment decisions are made based on an individual’s job-related qualifications and abilities.
Requires at least one year of experience in Allied Health, a graduate RN degree, or previous OPO experience. Must possess strong knowledge of medical terminology and the ability to handle emotional distress and death.
Market context
In Illinois, hospital referral liaison roles are typically tied to ongoing needs in hospitals, transplant, and referral coordination settings, where timely communication and accurate documentation matter. Competition often centers on candidates who bring allied health experience, a graduate RN degree, or prior OPO experience, along with strong medical terminology skills and the ability to work through emotional distress and death. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits on this page, then tailor your application to show referral coordination experience and comfort with sensitive conversations.
