JOB SUMMARY

The Organ Preservationist assists in the recovery, preservation, and perfusion of organs and tissues for transplantation or research. The incumbent also ensures a constant state of readiness of supplies, solutions, and machines, maintains the preservation lab, develops and maintains hospital relations, and provides donation-related education to OR staff.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES - Essential Duty or Function

1. Performs aseptic organ preservation by flushing abdominal organs with appropriate solution, packaging and labeling organs, tissue typing material and vessels in accordance with OPTN Policy. Assists hospital staff in preparing the operating room for organ recovery.
2. Performs hospital development, specific to the recovery of organs in the operating room, by maintaining relationships with OR staff and through in-services, education, presentations, and meetings.
3. Maintains all preservation supplies and mechanical preservation equipment in accordance Life Connection of Ohio Policy, regulatory standards, and manufacturer guidelines.
4. Performs aseptic kidney pumping/pulsatile perfusion following kidney separation by a surgeon. Performs aseptic surgical recovery of organs and tissues for research.
5. Obtains culture and biopsy results; reports positive and final results to transplant centers and recovery partners; performs other duties as required

Education Requirements

Completion of a Surgical Technologist, ER Technologist or EMT program preferred; certification preferred.

Experience in the tissue or organ recovery industry or two years of experience in the allied health field preferred.

Experience Requirements

Two or more years of operating room experience and/or sterile technique preferred.

Organ perfusion and previous on-call experience preferred.

Skills and Abilities

Arm-Hand Steadiness -- The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

Manual Dexterity -- The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

Finger Dexterity -- The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.

Ability to work independently as well as in a team environment.

Strong computer and data entry skills, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and Internet.

Effective problem-solving and decision-making skills, which demonstrate good judgment.

Sensitivity and a high degree of confidentiality required.

Licenses or Certificates

Certified Surgical Technologist preferred

Certified Transplant Preservationist (CTP) required within 18 months of start date.

SUPERVISION

Reports directly to the Manager of the AOCs and Preservationist

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

None

Working Environment

Work environment varies from office to home office environment to clinical practice areas. This position requires significant on-call duties and travel within the designated service area.

Physical Requirements

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 physically lift 75 pounds
• Ability to work 24-hour on-call shifts
• Ability to move donor from cart to bed with assistance
• 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

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

ACAThis job description is a general description of essential job functions. It is not intended as an employment contract, nor is it intended to describe all duties someone in this position may perform. All employees of Life Connection of Ohio are expected to perform tasks as assigned by Life Connection of Ohio supervisory personnel, regardless of job title or routine job duties.