Genetic Counselor Assistant

University of California, San Francisco•San Francisco, CA

15h

About The Position

Under direct supervision and guided by the procedures of Ambulatory Services, the Hospital Assistant III – Genetic Counselor Assistant is responsible for interviewing patients and documenting personal and family medical history, requesting outside medical records and uploading them to Apex and departmental database, assisting with clinic flow, including scheduling, rooming patients, and managing coordination of joint visits with genetic counselors and physicians, staffing the Genetic Testing Station to share video and hand-out-based education, reviewing research consent forms with patients and sending Docusign consent forms, taking patients to the laboratory for blood draws or facilitating saliva sample collection for genetic testing, preparing blood or saliva samples for transportation to laboratories, monitoring communications with genetic testing laboratories, consulting with healthcare providers and laboratories, drawing and updating patient pedigrees using Progeny pedigree drawing software and patient history forms, entering data into the Cancer Risk Program (CRP) database, and performing other patient preparation and follow-up tasks. They also support clinical research projects, including consenting, data collection, and documentation. The role requires working as a team member with other practice staff, projecting a professional and courteous demeanor, complying with Medical Center House and Telephone Standards, paying close attention to detail, and demonstrating excellent customer service skills.

Requirements

Ability to communicate effectively, both over the telephone and in person.
Ability to deal sensitively and effectively with patients.
Excellent organizational skills.
Excellent customer service and problem solving skills.
Ability to work well both independently, with little supervision, and in a team setting.
Bachelor’s degree in a biological/health science or an equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
Knowledge of genetics and genetic concepts.
Strong computer skills and experience with Microsoft Office software, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint required.
Ability to communicate effectively, both over the telephone and in person.
Ability to deal sensitively and effectively with patients.
Excellent organizational skills.
Ability to work well both independently, with little supervision, and in a team setting.

Nice To Haves

Experience with patient and or family contact in a community or medical setting.
Previous experience with clinical projects, either in an administrative or clinical role, preferred.
Demonstrated knowledge of medical practice terminology and genetic terminology and concepts.
Experience with Outlook, File Maker Pro and Progeny (or other pedigree drawing software) preferred.
Bi-lingual or multi-lingual capability (Spanish, Cantonese, Russian) strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Assisting genetic counselors with all aspects of patients scheduling, intake, genetic counseling, genetic testing and documentation.
Scheduling of clinic visits as needed.
Telephone and in-person contact regarding genetic counseling, genetic testing and participation in support groups for enrollment or follow-up purposes.
Assisting low income patients with the steps to determine eligibility for counseling and/or genetic testing at reduced or no charge.
Interview patients and document personal and family medical history.
Entering data into the Cancer Risk Program (CRP) database.
Chart preparation and updating, including obtaining and uploading outside records.
Drawing and updating patient pedigrees using Progeny pedigree drawing software and patient history forms.
Preparation of letters of medical necessity.
Assist with clinic flow, including scheduling, rooming patients, and managing coordination of joint visits with genetic counselors and physicians.
Contact laboratories to determine all necessary steps for gene testing for specific genes.
Act as liaison with laboratories to make sure all samples and required forms and samples are completed and received.
Request authorizations for complex gene testing.
Research specific cancer syndromes and complete searches for relevant articles.
Reviewing research consent form with patients.
Taking patients to laboratory for blood draws.
Obtaining saliva samples for genetic testing.
Preparing blood or saliva samples for transportation to laboratories within and outside of UCSF.
Preparation of family genetic counseling reports.
Consultations with healthcare providers and laboratories.
Other patient preparation, care, and follow-up tasks.
Staff Genetic Testing Station – share video and hand-out-based education.
Reviewing research consent form with patients and send Docusign consent form.
Facilitate genetic testing and arrange follow-up with genetic counselor.
Performing other duties as assigned, including outreach event participation and preparation of fliers, etc. to facilitate identification of high risk hereditary cancer families.
Filing, transporting samples to and from labs, letters, follow up with referring health professionals, and typing.