Genetic Counselor, Pediatric Cytogenetics

Minimum Qualifications

Master’s degree in Human Genetics and/or certification by the American Board of Genetic Counseling

Job Summary

The Department of Pediatrics at the University of Texas Medical Branch is seeking a Genetic Counselor who specialize in pediatric counseling services to provide professional counseling and education to individuals at risk for or diagnosed with genetic disease.

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 and documents accurate personal and family medical history and 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 needs 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.
• 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.
• Performs related duties as required.

Salary Range: Actual salary commensurate with experience or range if discussed and approved by hiring authority.

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.