At Houston Methodist, the Genetic Counselor position is responsible fordelivering genetic counseling for individuals with genetically caused and predisposed disorders or diagnosed with or at risk for cancers with hereditary genetic components. This position functions as part of an interprofessional team including physicians, Ph.Ds. nurses and other allied health professionals. The Genetic Counselor position works in an interdisciplinary setting, with opportunity for participation in collaborative research efforts in both clinical and multiple community-based settings.

PATIENT AGE GROUP(S) AND POPULATION(S) SERVED
Refer to departmental "Scope of Service" and "Provision of Care" plans, as applicable, for description of primary age groups and populations served by this job for the respective HM entity.

HOUSTON METHODIST EXPERIENCE EXPECTATIONS

• Provide personalized care and service by consistently demonstrating our I CARE values:
  • INTEGRITY: We are honest and ethical in all we say and do.
  • COMPASSION: We embrace the whole person including emotional, ethical, physical, and spiritual needs.
  • ACCOUNTABILITY: We hold ourselves accountable for all our actions.
  • RESPECT: We treat every individual as a person of worth, dignity, and value.
  • EXCELLENCE: We strive to be the best at what we do and a model for others to emulate.

• Practices the Caring and Serving Model

• Delivers personalized service using HM Service Standards

• Provides for exceptional patient/customer experiences by following our Standards of Practice of always using Positive Language (AIDET, Managing Up, Key Words)

• Intentionally collaborates with other healthcare professionals involved in patients/customers or employees' experiential journeys to ensure strong communication, ease of access to information, and a seamless experience.

• Involves patients (customers) in shift/handoff reports by enabling their participation in their plan of care as applicable to the given job

• Displays cultural humility, diversity, equity and inclusion principles

• Actively supports the organization's vision, fulfills the mission and abides by the I CARE values

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provides follow-up to genetic counseling visits as indicated including arranging consultations with other specialists, computerized risk assessment modeling, completing consultation reports, obtaining outside medical records or specimens, facilitating authorization for patients' insurance coverage for genetic testing, telephone communication with patients, facilitating family communication and requesting follow-up visits. Prepares and presents cases as indicated at cancer conferences by the interprofessional health care team.

• Facilitates the identification of high-risk patients for genetic counseling and clinical research protocols. Provides genetic screening and counseling services in multiple Houston Methodist care centers.

• Supervises students during their cancer genetics rotation, participating in the psychosocial course, and providing student evaluations including the development of appropriate tools to monitor student progress.

• Conducts self in a manner that is congruent with cultural diversity, equity, and inclusion principles. Contributes towards improvement of department scores for employee engagement, i.e., peer-to-peer accountability.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provides genetic counseling to individuals identified with predisposing characteristics or at potentially elevated risk for developing cancer which includes the ability to elicit and interpret individual and family medical and psychosocial histories, provide cancer risk assessment, communicate pertinent disease, and risk information clearly, provide counseling regarding genetic testing including the results, and support patients' psychosocial needs. Develops educational materials, reviews patient charts, contacts family members when appropriate, and conducts public and professional presentations.

• Serves as primary contact and liaison for specified clinical departments/physician offices and community entities in regard to Cancer Genetic Counseling. Provides education to the public, students, and health care professionals related to hereditary cancer and genetic counseling. Identifies and helps develop patient, professional, and public education materials and presentations. Provides seminars and presentations as appropriate.

• Helps drive improvement of department score for patient satisfaction through peer-to-peer accountability to service standards.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Identifies opportunities for process improvement to improve the quality of department, providing recommendations, and contributes to meeting department and hospital targets for quality and safety. Works with the leadership and IT team to create and/or enhance current operational and documentation of efficiencies to improve the quality of information entered in the medical record. Audits adherence to program and hospital initiatives.

• Tracks data for all consulted patients and logs information within the EMR and other databases as indicated. Reports data as required.

• Improves quality and safety scores for department and organization, through peer-to-peer accountability and collaborating with the interprofessional health care team.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provides statistical data to appropriate persons; reports on required data at identified meetings.

• Utilizes resources with cost effectiveness and value creation in mind. Self-motivated to independently manage time effectively and prioritize daily tasks, assisting coworkers as needed.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Assists with patient recruitment both inside and outside the organization. Participates in the design, writing or editing of research protocols as requested. Initiates new research projects and works with the interprofessional health care team to implement these projects. Assists with clinical studies as needed. Performs database and primary literature searches as necessary.

• Attends tumor boards and other meetings as required. Attends subject specialty conferences so as to embrace best evidence and increase own knowledge in the related field.

• Expands own knowledge and serves as instructor in continuing education or formal program and expert consultation. Identifies, plans, and implements education for the unit and service line in collaboration with team members and interprofessional partners. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an on-going basis.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

EDUCATION

• Master's degree in genetic counseling, human genetics/genetics, or directly equivalent discipline from an accredited training program by Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling (ACGC).

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Three years' experience in risk assessment and counseling for genetic diseases preferred

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED

• CGC - Certified Genetic Counselor (ABGC) within 18 months or
• ABMGG - Certified by American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ABMGG) within 18 months

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations

• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security

• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles

• Demonstrates ability to work with diverse individuals and community groups

• Displays professionalism, remains composed under stress, and takes responsibility for delivering on personal and organizational commitments

• Able to work independently and possesses organization/time management and prioritization skills

• Basic computer skills including Microsoft office applications

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

WORK ATTIRE

• Uniform No
• Scrubs No
• Business professional Yes
• Other (department approved) No

ON-CALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. DIsaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.

• On Call* No

TRAVEL**
**Travel specifications may vary by department**

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area Yes

Houston Methodist The Woodlands opened in 2017 as the eighth hospital in the Houston Methodist system. This 187-bed, 470,000-square-foot, full-service, acute care hospital offers many of the same services as our flagship hospital in the Texas Medical Center. Also on the $380 million hospital campus, located at the intersection of I-45 and TX 242, is a medical office building, which opened in 2016. Medical Office Building 1 includes a breast care center, cancer center & infusion center, orthopedics & sports medicine, rehabilitation services, wellness services, and an outpatient laboratory in addition to multi-specialty physician practices. A second medical office building and 785-car parking garage opened in 2018.