Independent Living Donor Advocate

Summary:

Under
the general supervision of the Chaplaincy Program leadership the Independent Living
Donor Advocate (ILDA) functions as an advocate and resource for the Transplant
Program's living kidney donor candidates throughout referral evaluation
surgery and follow-up (the "donation process"). Ensures that the donor's rights
are protected that their best interests are promoted and that all questions and
concerns raised during the donation process are addressed. Respects and supports the donor's decision
and ensures that it is fully informed and free from any coercion. The ILDA is a transplant program position with
regulatory requirements from CMS (Medicare) and UNOS (United Network for Organ
Sharing) and TJC (The Joint Commission).

Responsibilities:

The Independent Living Donor
Advocate represents and advises the donor candidate throughout the donation
process with the goal of protecting their rights and promoting their best
interests. Throughout the donation process the ILDA will provide a safe
environment for the potential donor to express questions and concerns regarding
the evaluation process or transplant surgery. The duties/responsibilities to accomplish this include but are not
limited to the following:

• Upon a candidate's
  initial referral / contact with the Transplant Program and prior to the Living
  Donor Coordinator initiating the donor evaluation process the ILDA will
  contact the potential donor introduce him or herself explain their role and briefly describe the donor evaluation process so that the potential donor
  understands what to expect and can ask any preliminary questions before
  proceeding. The ILDA documents their notes from this and all future
  interactions with the donor in the transplant program record.

• On
  the day of the initial evaluation appointment the ILDA will actively
  participate in the evaluation and informed consent process with the Living
  Donor Coordinator and the prospective donor. The ILDA will then meet
  in person with the potential donor to further discuss areas of informed
  consent including risks and the donor's motivation to donate a kidney to
  ensure that there are no concerns regarding
  coercion. They will review the voluntary nature of
  living kidney donation with the potential donor and will assess the donor's
  understanding of the information provided.

• The
  ILDA will ensure that a comprehensive psychosocial evaluation of the donor
  candidate has been done by a licensed mental health professional on behalf of
  the transplant team. During the evaluation process the ILDA maintains on-going
  communication with the Living Donor Coordinator and will discuss any concerns
  or issues with the donor team. They will contribute to the
  transplant team's assessment of the potential donor by providing information
  about the donor's understanding of donation and making known any reservations
  the donor may have about proceeding with evaluation or donation for
  transplant. The ILDA will also review the donor's right to
  confidentially opt out at any time.

• Once
  the donor candidate is cleared for donation and a surgery date is being
  scheduled the ILDA will check in on how they are feeling about their decision
  to donate a kidney and the workup process. The ILDA will confirm that all the
  information needed to make the decision to donate has been provided that the
  donor has considered the risks in a thoughtful way and has a supportive social
  network. The ILDA will again make every effort to confirm that the
  donor's decision is being made free from coercion. They will respect and
  support the donor candidate's decisions which may include a decision to
  withdraw from the donation process up to and including day of surgery.

• After
  donation surgery the ILDA will meet with living donor during their
  hospitalization to determine how they are feeling after their surgery and about
  their decision to donate a kidney and if there are any issues or concerns that
  need to be brought to the attention of the transplant team.

• The
  ILDA will be available to the donor throughout the recovery
  process. They will call the donor at 6 weeks post- hospitalization
  discharge to check in on how the donor is feeling about their decision to
  donate a kidney (emotional/psychological status check). If questions or
  concerns are raised by the donor at any point in the follow up they will
  respond in a timely and proactive way to resolve the situation and/or
  communicate the information to the transplant team.

• The
  ILDA will attend the bi-weekly transplant multidisciplinary Living Donor
  Committee meetings and provide information input and note concerns if any
  regarding any potential or past donors.

• The
  ILDA will remain current in knowledge applicable to this position including
  transplantation and living organ donation informed consent medical ethics
  UNOS/OPTN policy and CMS requirements.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Other information:

EDUCATION &
Experience

The ILDA's background
can include experience in the field of medicine nursing social work
psychology chaplaincy or other appropriate disciplines. The ILDA
will be approved / deemed qualified by the Transplant Program leadership. The
ILDA will complete transplant center-specific orientation and applicable
training for this role. Evaluation of the ILDA's performance will be
done periodically by their supervisor and will include input from members of
the transplant program's living donor team.

• Bachelor's
  degree preferred

• Strong
  verbal and written communication skills

• Strong
  interpersonal skills; the ability to actively listen

• Ability
  to effectively communicate assessments and concerns to the transplant team
  (comprised of physicians nurses other allied health specialists) and to
  confidently and diplomatically advocate to the transplant team on behalf of the donor's best interests

• Has
  knowledge of or has the ability to be oriented and educated in the topics of
  living organ donation transplantation medical ethics and informed consent

• Ability
  to understand the potential impact of family dynamics and other external
  pressures on the living donor candidate's decision whether to donate and has
  the ability to discuss these sensitive issues with the donor

• Able
  to work collaboratively with but independently from the transplant team (to
  avoid conflicts of interest)

• Prior
  experience working in a multi-disciplinary healthcare team of physicians
  nurses social workers other allied health professionals and administrative
  staff