Job Description

ECU Health

About ECU Health

ECU Health is a mission-driven, 1,708-bed academic health care system serving more than 1.4 million people in 29 eastern North Carolina counties. The not-for-profit system is comprised of 13,000 team members, nine hospitals and a physician group that encompasses over 1,100 academic and community providers practicing in over 180 primary and specialty clinics located in more than 130 locations.

The flagship ECU Health Medical Center, a Level I Trauma Center, and ECU Health Maynard Children’s Hospital serve as the primary teaching hospitals for the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. ECU Health and the Brody School of Medicine share a combined academic mission to improve the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina through patient care, education and research.

Position Summary

The transfusion safety officer (TSO) is responsible for acting as a liaison within the hospital environment to ensure that patient blood management (PBM) and transfusion-related activities are conducted in the safest possible manner and meet or exceed all existing standards of practice.

Responsibilities

1. Supervisory/Management: Works with the PBM Chair, Transfusion Medicine Pathologist, and Administration to develop annual goals for the PBM program. Maintains effective communication and coordination with all disciplines that interface with PBM and transfusion activities.

2. Technical/Clinical: Reviews, recommends, and/or introduces PBM and transfusion-related technologies and strategies to the PBM Committee and appropriate hospital personnel. Consults with clinical services regarding PBM program changes that will impact blood product use, blood transfusion equipment needs, etc. Acts as a resource in solving transfusion-related clinical and technical problems. Identifies and investigates any trends related to transfusion practices.

3. Utilization Management: Monitors transfusion product utilization and brings utilization issues to the attention of the Transfusion Medicine Pathologist, and PBM Committee Chair. Serves as an advisor for revisions to indications for transfusions and PBM related protocols. Conducts prospective and retrospective audits on the utilization of blood products and their alternatives and identifies and investigates any trends related to transfusion practices.

4. Quality/Risk Activities: Reviews and investigates incident reports and management of transfusion reactions; where appropriate, recommends changes to current practices. Monitors blood product waste and maintains process improvement initiatives to identify high-yield opportunities and minimize blood product waste. Conducts benchmarking and promotes evidence-based practice in the transfusion of the appropriate blood products and their alternatives. Works collaboratively with blood bank and nursing leadership, and Regulatory Compliance to ensure updating of policies and procedures to reflect changes in transfusion and PBM practice.

5. Specialized skills and knowledge required: Solid computer skills and knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet software applications. Knowledge of compliance and regulatory processes specific to transfusion medicine. Knowledge of quality improvement processes.

6. Education: Assists with education on high impact PBM topics including patient pretransfusion specimen collection, bedside blood administration, medical decisions to transfuse, preventing and managing transfusion reactions, and minimizing blood wastage.

Minimum Requirements

• BSN degree (or higher) with 3 years experience transfusing blood products, OR a BS Medical Technologist/Clinical Laboratory Scientist degree with 3 years experience in Transfusion Medicine is required. 

Other Information

• 8 Hour Shifts
• Days, weekends/holidays as needed
• Rotating Weekeds 

General Statement

It is the goal of ECU Health and its entities to employ the most qualified individual who best matches the requirements for the vacant position.

Offers of employment are subject to successful completion of all pre-employment screenings, which may include an occupational health screening, criminal record check, education, reference, and licensure verification.

We value diversity and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Decisions of employment are made based on business needs, job requirements and applicant’s qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, genetic information and testing, family and medical leave, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other status protected by law. We prohibit retaliation against individuals who bring forth any complaint, orally or in writing, to the employer, or against any individuals who assist or participate in the investigation of any complaint.