Job Description

University of Utah Job Description

Job Summary

Working in conjunction with Body Donor Program staff; procures, prepares and distributes human anatomic material to educational and research entities in the Intermountain West. Interacts with and disseminates information to, potential and at need body donors and their families. Attends to cremations and the proper disposition of human cremains.

Qualifications

Graduation from an accredited college of mortuary science; A certificate from the National Board of Funeral Service Education; a current Funeral Service Directors license in the state of Utah and two years experience in the handling, preparation and proper disposition of deceased bodies. Demonstrated knowledge of human relations and effective communication skills are also required. Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.

Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.

Disclaimer

This job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification.  It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.

Essential Functions

1. Scientifically prepares, harvests and embalms cadavers or parts for appropriate education and research purposes.
2. Establishes and maintains professional association with and distributes anatomic material to educational and/or research entities.
3. Attends to the proper cremation and various dispositions of terminated bodies.
4. Maintains donor program inventory of chemicals and supplies with regard to OSHA mandates.
5. Takes appropriate share of after hour on call duty.
6. Acts on death calls by evaluating legal and medical implications of the death, making arrangements for body pickup, answering questions on donor issues from family members, etc.
7. Ensures program compliance with federal, state, and local regulations and prepare legal documents.
8. Completing death certificates by obtaining statistical information from donor families, contacting attending physicians, in coordination with local health departments.
9. Answering program phones, mailing donor packets and other correspondence to interested individuals.
10. Maintaining donor program files and records, invoicing clients, etc.
11. Disseminating public information regarding the value of body donation.

Problem Solving

The Body Donor Program has written guidelines, and Federal, State, and local mandates that the incumbent must be aware of and follow. A major challenge for the incumbent is resolving unique situations, most of which stem from the survivors lack of understanding about the donor’s wishes and the Body Donor Program’s operation. These problems are generally resolved through mediation, which requires a working knowledge of grief psychology. All problems not immediately resolved by the incumbent must be referred to the Manager of the Body Donor Program.

Comments

The incumbent inherently works with a) copious amounts of blood, body fluids and body tissues known to be pathogenic, and b) caustic and corrosive chemicals known to cause injury, disease and death.