Genetic Counselor, Pediatric Cytogenetics (Galveston)

Minimum Qualifications:

• Masters degree in Human Genetics and/or certification by the American Board of Medical Genetics. No experience required.

Job Description:

To provide professional counseling and education to individuals at risk for hereditary malformations or diseases.

Job Duties:

• Reviews referrals and charts for patients with pending appointments.
• Reviews the available records.
• Identifies deficits in documentation and notifies the appropriate office staff what additional records need to be requested.
• Research background information about diagnoses, test results, exposures, or other factors affecting risk assessment as they pertain to the patient’s upcoming visit.
• Provides genetic counseling to patients under physician supervision and in accordance with division policies. 
• Obtains accurate personal and family history and interprets data obtained in terms of genetic risks, provides risk assessment in accordance with division policies.
• Records family histories according to the national standards to be included as part of the patient’s medical record.
• Assists patients in understanding genetic diseases or birth defects through the provision of professional genetic counseling services.
• Provides genetic counseling in accordance with the National Society of Genetic Counselors Code of Ethics in a nonbiased, respectful manner.
• Engages in culturally competent counseling techniques.
• Develops counseling visual aids and decision-making tools, as appropriate.
• Facilitates informed decision making for patients in an environment that is free of coercion by providing the necessary facts, discussing alternatives, and exploring possible consequences.
• Assesses patient's physical and emotional needs to plan appropriate subsequent care as they relate to emotional stress, fear of test results, financial or transportation problems, marital conflicts or patient-physician conflicts so as to make proper referral recommendations.
• Coordinates testing, as appropriate, ordered by the physician.
• Research available testing, determining the best testing modality for the given situation.
• Counsel patients about available testing options (including benefits and limitations).
• Compiles the necessary clinical information needed and provides the information to the appropriate departments for prior authorizations to be obtained.
• Obtains informed consent, as appropriate.
• Maintains computerized genetic and prenatal data file used to report data to state and federal programs.
• Coordinates referrals for prenatal counseling with the OB/GYN outreach clinics throughout the state
• Addresses patients concerns about testing methods, implications, turnaround times, and logistics.
• Tracks patient test results and documents them in appropriate division-maintained databases.
• Interprets genetic test results and communicates test results to patients, as appropriate, assuring continuity of care and education of the patient and family about the nature of the genetic disorder.
• Maintains appropriate medical documentation.
• Keeps care team members appraised of developments in patient cases to ensure continuity of care.
• Consults with other specialties for patient care as needed.
• Maintains continuing education units as required for recertification, including attendance at national conferences and/or participation in web-based training.
• Supervises and provides instruction to medical students, residents, fellows, and other trainees completing genetic rotations, according to the division educational curriculum.
• Serves as an educational resource for physicians and the community through outreach programs and in-service presentations.
• Provides genetic education and information resources to patients, colleagues, and community.
• Represents UTMB in the field of genetics on the local and national levels, in accordance with university policies.
• Attends regularly scheduled meetings (including division meetings) and facilitates the scheduling of other meetings as needed (such as genetic counselor meetings).
• Adheres to internal controls established for the department and the institution.
• Updates patient records and confers with patients when problems arise.
• Performs related duties as required.
   

Work Schedule:
Demonstrates willingness to travel up to one day per week to the outreach programs in the surrounding areas including but not limited to Angleton, Pearland, Pasadena, Sugarland, and/or Bay Colony clinic to provide genetic counseling.

Salary Range:
Commensurate with experience 
 
 

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY:

UTMB Health strives to provide equal opportunity employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. As a Federal Contractor, UTMB Health takes affirmative action to hire and advance protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.