Genetic Counseling Assistant I- Neurology

• Triages genetic counseling referrals/phone calls/emails, coordinating with program PER and schedulers to ensure patients are scheduled accurately and in a timely manner.
• Performs pre-visit preparation for clinical visits, including collection of relevant medical records, lab reports, pre-visit estimates and patient intake forms.
• Answers post-visit follow up questions regarding genetic testing and sample status, and directs specific genetic counseling questions to the appropriate Genetic Counselor.
• Contacts additional family members for consent under supervision as necessary.
• Facilitates genetic testing process, including identification of laboratories, researching sample submission requirements, requesting shipment of clinical testing kits from laboratories to patients, and submitting appropriate medical records to genetic testing labs.
• Tracks patient samples for genetic testing, follow up for missing samples, contact for additional family members included in testing, follow up collection of any missing information with patients, Genetic Counselors and other ordering providers.
• Tracks or submits prior authorization requests in accordance with genetic testing laboratories. Submits appeals in accordance with payors including letters of medical necessity, additional clinical, laboratory and demographic details to support authorization requests such as determination of accurate CPT and ICD 10 codes and with scheduling peer-to-peer meetings with insurance providers.
• Completes genetic testing requisition forms if applicable, including interpretation of patient pedigrees and assignment of diagnosis codes.
• Ensures test results are entered into program database(s) as needed. Maintains patient testing database for the program.
• Responds to inquiries about genetic testing from other Institute staff, patients, families, and outside healthcare providers.
• Prepares and distributes patient education materials and assists in patient-centered educational events.
• Supports quality improvement for the program by providing data for Quality Improvement program; actively seeks and recommends quality improvement opportunities. Prepares reports from database regarding referral and testing metrics.
• Patient facing roles such as taking basic family histories and calling out negative test results under supervision will be assigned as seen fit.
• Projects such as case write ups, data entry for case series and/or grants, posters, etc. will be assigned as seen fit.
• Plan and take minutes for Genetic Counseling Team meetings, and distribute minutes to team following meetings.
• Attend and participate in clinical meetings.
• Prepares case presentations, figures, posters and/or slides for meetings and publications as needed.

In order to qualify, you must have:

• Bachelor's degree, preferably in Biological Science, Clinical Laboratory Science or related scientific field, Advocacy and Social Sciences.
• One year of experience in a laboratory setting or healthcare, public service or insurance customer service setting is preferred.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing and provide empathy in difficult interpersonal situations.
• Ability to gather and synthesize data, resources, and literature related to relevant genes, variants, diagnoses and test results.
• Ability to demonstrate professional behavior by adhering to departmental and organizational policies and procedures, and assuming authority appropriately.
• Analytical skills and judgment to interpret data and take the appropriate action in circumstances or situations that vary.