Genetic Counseling Assistant - Bronson Cancer Center, Kalamazoo

CURRENT BRONSON EMPLOYEES - Please apply using the career worklet in Workday.  This career site is for external applicants only.

Love Where You Work!

Team Bronson is compassionate, resilient and strong. We are driven by Positivity which inspires us to be our best and to go above and beyond for our patients, for one another, and for our community. 

If you’re ready for a rewarding new career, join Team Bronson and be part of the experience.

Location

BMH Bronson Methodist Hospital

Title

Genetic Counseling Assistant - Bronson Cancer Center, Kalamazoo

The Genetic Counseling Assistant is responsible for improving the clinical efficiency of the Genetic Counseling team. Responsibilities include both clinical and administrative support. The Genetic Counseling Assistant is responsible for triaging urgent versus non-urgent genetic counseling referrals, gathering complete family histories and supporting medical information prior to the patients’ appointments, answering frequently asked questions about the genetic counseling and testing process and triaging more complex questions to the genetic counselors, filling out laboratory requisition forms, packing, sending, and tracking lab samples and results, calling patients and discussing normal test results, managing the genetic counselors’ clinical and non-clinical schedules, working with insurance companies and the lab to obtain authorization for a genetic test when required, and abstracting data for registries and reporting.

• Bachelor of Art/Science or equivalent required with applicable work experience in related field preferred.
• Genetic Counseling Assistant certificate preferred.
• Previous experience in health care environment highly desirable.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to interact effectively with patients, providers, team, management, employees, peers, and the general public.
• Ability to interpret, comprehend, and transmit complicated and detailed instructions.
• Ability to prioritize, organize, and work independently as well as schedule and produce work in a timely manner.
• Broad knowledge of organizational operation and policies, discretion, and technical skills.
• Experience in clinic tasks and functions including advanced knowledge of medical genetic terminology, conditions, tests, pedigrees, and genetic databases.
• Expertise in Microsoft Word, Excell, Outlook, both clinical and administrative tasks.
• Experience with insurance companies and the pre-authorization process a plus.
• Must have or be able to obtain Basic Life Support certification.

• Job Duties:

• Communicates with referring providers’ offices initially and in follow-up.
• Handles all genetic counseling referrals, including the collection of the patient’s complete family history and other health records needed for appointments.
• Enter the patient and their family history and other information into databases and gathers additional medical and family history information from patients as needed.
• Reports negative test results to patients by phone and documents such reports and revised risk assessments and clinical recommendations in the patients’ charts.
• Enters results into database and Epic Genomics module.
• Develops and/or updates systems to streamline the operational workflow and increase the capacity of the program.
• Participates in team meetings.
• Maintains multiple databases, systematic monitoring of referrals, test results, high risk patients, numbers of patients referred and seen, etc.
• Periodic analysis of referral patterns, turnaround times, follow-up with referral providers and patients.
• Collects appropriate reports on applicable patients to assist with consultations, appropriate genetic test selection, future follow-up appointments as needed.
• Enters data into appropriate software and databases.
• Sends information and educational materials and letters to referring providers and patients.
• Coordinates patient consultation and follow-up schedules.
• Assists in collection of consent forms, authorization to share information forms, surveys, etc.
• Completes chart preparation prior to each patient appointment.
• Fills out requisition forms, packages, and sends out samples to appropriate laboratories.
• Triage urgent patients, collect all relevant information prior to appointments, and make sure the patients are scheduled in a timely manner.
• Track test specimens, shipping, and results.
• Send reminder letters to patients when due for follow-up appointments.
• Triage patient and provider questions (answers frequently asked questions appropriately and forwards more complex questions to the genetic counse