Genetic Counselor

Job Description Who we’re looking for:

The UW Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology (DLMP) in Seattle, WA has a fantastic opportunity for a Genetic Counselor 2 with the Genetics Team at the University of Washington Medical Center – Montlake.

As a Genetic Counselor 2, at a senior level, you will initially focus on cytogenetics, constitutional microarray analysis and cell-free DNA prenatal screen assay. You will perform test utilization management, analysis and variant interpretation, and reporting. Additionally, you will play a key role in maintaining client relations for service area of expertise. You will collaborate with a highly talented and experienced group of Genetic Counselors, Variant Scientists, lab staff, students, faculty, and fellows as part of a cross-functional team working towards a common goal of providing high-quality patient care.

Bonus! As a Genetic Counselor 2, you will have the opportunity to cross-train in other clinical service areas as we expand our test menus to support more innovative and improved genomic assays.

• 100% FTE
• Monday – Friday
• Initial training is 100% onsite; one day telework per week thereafter
• Day shift

Client Relations

• Provide information, technical assistance and guidance on test availability, composition, selection, and interpretation.
• Assist with the resolution of genomic and/or cytogenetic testing issues, such as inadequate specimens, questions regarding variants, and research enrollment.
• Coordinate indicated follow-up testing for at-risk family members.
• Maintain and update patient and provider materials and webpages.
• Represent the team and department at national conferences, journal publications and/or invited presentations.

Laboratory Operations

• Review genomic and cytogenetic test orders for urgency and accuracy.
• Obtain relevant patient clinical history for case review and interpretation.
• Review pending samples and build runs for the week; collaborate with laboratory and billing teams to troubleshoot issues as needed.
• Provide clinical support to billing department, including case review documentation of medical necessity, as part of the pre-authorization process.
• Compose reports with laboratory medical directors, genetic counselors, and variant review scientists.
• Review reports before release into laboratory information system and EMR.
• With lab directors or supervisor support, call out preliminary results, abnormal results, or unusual results to ordering provider, as needed. This may include recommendations for follow-up based on the results and discussion of implications of the results on other family members.
• Coordinate reflex testing and send out testing with other labs.
• Participate in laboratory’s program for analyzing variants of uncertain significance.
• Participate in scientific and quality-assurance studies and research related to the laboratory's services.
• Develop training materials and participate in training Genetic Counseling students and other members of the team.

Administrative and Quality Improvement Operations

• Work with Genomic Analysis Manager to develop and update procedures and job-aids for the clinical genomic analysis (CGA) team.
• Assist in testing and/or implementing new workflows, software, and IT infrastructure updates in collaboration with partner teams.
• Participate in ongoing literature reviews to incorporate latest knowledge into the clinical classification of genes and gene variants.
• Assist with review, maintenance, and update of billing codes.
• Help develop and implement improvements in electronic reporting of test results

Senior Genetic Counselor Responsibilities

• Act as a mentor/consultant to genetic counselor(s) and other members of the CGA team such as variant review scientists, genetic counseling assistants, and student assistants.
• Responsible for monitoring work quality and reporting issues to managers and directors.
• Perform analysis and variant interpretation for service area of expertise such as exome sequencing, somatic and inherited cancer panels, constitutional and neoplasia SNP array etc.
• Work with directors, variant review scientists and laboratory staff to solve complex client inquiries/issues and…