JOB SUMMARY:  At Houston Methodist, the responsibility of the Cancer Genetic Counselor (CGC) position is to deliver 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 CGC position works in an interdisciplinary setting, with opportunity for participation in collaborative research efforts in both clinical and multiple community-based settings.

**This position will work in the Cancer Centers at Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital & Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital.

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
• Focuses on patient/customer safety
• Delivers personalized service using Houston Methodist 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 rounds with patients/customers to ensure their needs are being met
• Involves patients (customers) in shift/handoff reports by enabling their participation in their plan of care as applicable to the given job

PRIMARY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

PEOPLE - 30%

1. Provides genetic counseling to individuals identified with predisposing characteristics or at potentially elevated risk for developing cancer.  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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.

SERVICE - 20%

1. 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.
2. Helps drive improvement of department score for patient satisfaction on unit-based scorecard, through peer-to-peer accountability to service standards.

QUALITY/SAFETY - 20%

1. Identifies opportunities for process improvement to improve the quality of the 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.
2. Tracks data for all consulted patients and logs information within the EMR and other databases as indicated.  Reports data as required.
3. Improves quality and safety scores on the unit-based scorecard, through peer-to-peer accountability and collaborating with the interprofessional health care team.

FINANCE - 10%

1. Provides statistical data to appropriate persons; reports on required data at identified meetings.
2. Uses resources efficiently; does not waste supplies.  Self-motivated to independently manage time effectively and prioritize daily tasks. Utilizes time between heavy workloads efficiently and helps other team members.

GROWTH/INNOVATION - 15%

1. Assists with patient recruitment both inside and outside the institution.  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.
2. 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.
3. 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 interdisciplinary partners. Completes and updates the individual development plan (IDP) on an on-going basis.