Genetic Counselor

Mercyhealth•Riverside, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Provide genetic counseling to patients seen in Mercyhealth Genetics in Rockford, Illinois (Riverside). The position works 80 hours per two weeks, Monday through Friday, with no weekends. The Genetic Counselor facilitates comprehensive patient care, conducts or assists with counseling sessions, coordinates further care and follow-up, and provides counseling and medical care as needed for newborn screening cases. The role also supports community and professional education, public awareness of regional genetics services, grant utilization, patient statistics, and current educational resources. The Genetic Counselor serves as an educational resource and mentor and provides services in accordance with NSGC/ABGC ethics guidelines. This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Requirements

Master’s-level degree in Genetic Counseling.
Strong organizational skills.
Effective verbal and written communication skills.
Quality customer service skills.
Ability to read and comprehend written instructions and follow verbal instructions.
Basic PC skills.
Ability to manage stress appropriately, make decisions under pressure, manage others’ anger, fear, hostility, or violence appropriately, handle multiple priorities, and work independently.

Responsibilities

Facilitate comprehensive patient care by explaining the genetic counseling process during initial contact, gathering relevant information such as medical records and family history, obtaining current medical literature, and ensuring timely distribution of summary letters to patients and referral sources.
Assist with or conduct counseling sessions and coordinate further care and follow-up.
Participate in community and professional education, accommodate most lecture requests, and organize and present educational conferences as funding and demonstrated need allow.
Participate in obtaining and using grant funding and ensure maximal use of grant funds.
Promote public awareness of the regional genetics service and serve as a regional community resource for genetic disease-related inquiries.
Maintain patient data and yearly statistics, including referral counts and sources, patient demographics, referral indications, and diagnoses.
Attend appropriate continuing education seminars and programs annually as funding permits.
Maintain current patient educational materials in sufficient quantities and up-to-date medical resources for department staff and other medical professionals.
Provide genetic counseling and medical care as needed for newborn screening cases and provide information to the State of Illinois newborn screening program as needed.
Serve as an educational resource and mentor for people interested in medicine and medical genetics.
Provide genetic counseling services in accordance with NSGC/ABGC codes of ethics.