Genetic Counselor
About The Position
The Genetic Counselor works in the Medical Genetics Division, a collaborative team providing evidence-based care for patients and families affected by rare genetic conditions across outpatient and inpatient settings. Genetic Counselors provide counseling, education, and emotional support to patients and families who have or may be at risk for inherited conditions. They analyze family medical histories and genetic test results, explain diagnoses and their medical, psychosocial, and familial implications, and support informed choices and adaptation to genetic risks or conditions. The role also includes teaching and consultation for health professionals and students.
Requirements
- Master's degree in a work-related field or discipline from an accredited college or university.
- Genetic Counselor certification or licensure by the State of California.
- Ability to develop clinically appropriate genetic counseling plans.
- Ability to ensure recommended testing is completed and patients are appropriately informed of results.
- Ability to present genetic information compassionately and effectively to individuals and families from diverse cultural backgrounds, and help them access needed medical and social services.
- Ability to provide genetic, medical, and technical information comprehensively, understandably, and nondirectively.
- Knowledge of genetic counseling methods and techniques.
- Knowledge of genetic diseases and disorders, birth defects, risks and options, and prenatal diagnosis screening tools.
Responsibilities
- Help families understand alternatives for managing genetic-disorder risks, choose an appropriate course of action, and adjust to an affected family member's condition or the risk of recurrence.
- Counsel patients about genetic disorders, inheritance patterns, recurrence risks, and management, communicating complex information and test results in understandable terms while addressing emotional impacts.
- Determine current knowledge about diagnoses, testing modalities, treatment options, and genetic causes; recommend specialized genetic testing.
- Educate patients about risks and options, disease signs and symptoms, recurrence probability, prognosis, diagnostic methods, and available courses of action.
- Explain the implications, risks, and benefits of genetic testing; coordinate testing, interpret results, and communicate them to patients and referring clinicians.
- Maintain case documentation and prepare detailed genetic counseling summary letters for referring clinicians.
- Refer patients and families to social service agencies, parent support groups, and other specialists as appropriate.
- Obtain detailed family and pregnancy histories, identify risk factors and inheritance patterns, obtain and analyze relevant medical records, review medical genetics literature, develop counseling plans, and obtain and document informed consent.
- Provide specialty consultation and education to health professionals, health sciences students, and other staff on genetic diseases, birth defects, prenatal diagnosis, and genetic screening; respond to inquiries from hospital departments and clinics.
- Review and prioritize referrals for counseling concerning the risk of having a child with a birth defect or genetic disease.
- Work with the health care team to develop and implement the care plan.
- Follow hospital policies and procedures, Joint Commission requirements, service standards, and the Code of Conduct.
Benefits
- Eligible positions may receive up to $9,600 through the Student Loan Assistance Program, applied directly to the employee's student loan account.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
