The job is specific to the living kidney donor as an advocate and involves multiple interviews for the living kidney donor both inpatient and outpatient. 

Locations are at Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes and our Cherry Hill office on Kresson Road.

Job Summary:

The Living Donor Advocate functions independently from the transplant candidate’s team and is responsible for following the donor through all phases of the donation process, including evaluation, inpatient donation surgery and discharge phase. The Living Donor Advocate protects and promotes the best interests of the potential living donor.

Position Responsibilities

Assist the potential living kidney donor to obtain and understand information including but not limited to the informed consent process, the evaluation process, the surgical procedure, the medical and psychosocial risks and follow up requirements, including the benefit and need to participate in follow up.

All living kidney donors will be assigned a donor advocate.  After the potential donor has received education from the Living Donor Coordinator and has given consent to be evaluated, the donor advocate will meet with or contact the potential donor.  This is to ensure that the potential donor understands the informed consent and the role of the donor advocate as described above as well as the information and education they have received.  The donor advocate will complete the Living Donor Advocate Initial Interview and document the donor’s medical record/Epic.

Contact the patient again after the required testing is completed and prior to surgery to ensure they are willing to move forward with the donation process.  The donor advocate will confirm with the donor that they completely understand the ramifications both short and long term of kidney donation and understand the need to follow up with regular medical care post kidney donation, continue to donate free from coercion. The donor advocate will complete the Living Donor Advocate Final Interview and document in the donor’s medical record/Epic. The Living Donor Advocate may meet with the potential donor additionally at any point pre donation, at the potential donor’s request.  

Visits the patient during the inpatient donation phase to identify any concerns the donor may have including any concerns during the inpatient donation stay.  The donor advocate will document the donor’s medical record/epic.

Visits the patient during the inpatient post donation discharge phase to discuss the patient’s discharge follow up plan with the donor advocate.  Documents the follow up plan in the donor’s medical record/epic.

Position Qualifications Required:

Required Experience: Minimum of 2 years of experience with advocacy

Required Education: Minimum education of high school graduate/GED

Knowledge of patient rights, medical ethics, and living organ donation

Training / Certification / Licensure:

Receive education on kidney transplantation, medical ethics and informed consent

Review the NATCO Kidney Independent Living Donor Advocacy Training manual and complete the posttest with a passing grade of 80%

Receives education from the living donor multidisciplinary team including but not limited to the following; consent process, evaluation process, surgical procedure, the medical and psychosocial risks, understanding the potential impact of family and other external pressures on the prospective living donor’s decision and the need for follow up post donation

Completes the Independent Living Donor Advocate Competency.

Annually, during the Medical Center performance review period, will complete at least one continuing education module from the site www.livingbank.org/courses or review a publication on living kidney donation

Strong interpersonal skills.

Ability to communicate in English, both oral and written

Ability to handle confidential information

Ability to use problem solving, critical thinking, and priority setting skills.

Ability to perform diversified duties with time limitations with high degree of accuracy.

Organizational skills

Hourly Rate: $23.13 - $34.79 The actual salary/rate will vary based on applicant’s experience as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Virtua offers a comprehensive package of benefits for full-time and part-time colleagues, including, but not limited to: medical/prescription, dental and vision insurance; health and dependent care flexible spending accounts; 403(b) (401(k) subject to collective bargaining agreement); paid time off, paid sick leave as provided under state and local paid sick leave laws, short-term disability and optional long-term disability, colleague and dependent life insurance and supplemental life and AD&D insurance; tuition assistance, and an employee assistance program that includes free counseling sessions. Eligibility for benefits is governed by the applicable plan documents and policies.

For more benefits information click here.