Genetic Counselor I

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago provides superior pediatric care in a setting that offers the latest benefits and innovations in medical technology, research and family-friendly design. As the largest pediatric provider in the region with a 140-year legacy of excellence, kids and their families are at the center of all we do. Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is ranked in all 10 specialties by the U.S. News & World Report.

Outpatient Center in Lincoln Park - Clark

The Ann & Robert H Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is excited to announce the recruitment of a full-time genetic counselor to join our laboratory utilization and management (LUM) team and general pediatric genetics team. This is a unique 70% LUM role and 30% general genetics clinical role. The LUM genetic counseling position focuses on reviewing genetic tests orders and providing guidance and support for providers in ordering the most appropriate genetic test for their patients. The ideal candidate for this role must be able to assess the patient’s clinical history, and when necessary, recommend alternative genetic testing based on analysis of risk, benefit, and cost. In addition, the genetic counselor will participate in collaborative efforts to improve utilization, quality, and reimbursement for genetic testing. They will serve as a liaison with reference laboratories utilized for genetic testing by our organization, and partner with our financial clearance, billing, and specimen handling teams to streamline the genetic testing process. In this role, the genetic counselor will also work on research projects on genetic testing laboratory utilization and be involved with supervision of genetic counseling students during their laboratory utilization rotation.

 

For the general genetics clinical role, the genetic counselor will be involved in our outpatient genetic counseling services, seeing patients both independently and in collaboration with genetics providers. We serve a diverse patient population, with patients referred to a wide range of indications and complex genetic diagnoses. The genetic counselor will practice at the top of their scope by being a part of our medical staff and billing for their services and an independent provider.

 

In this role, the genetic counselor will join a well-established team of genetic counselors, advanced practice providers (APPs) and geneticists, and will collaborate with a variety of specialists and experts in many disciplines. We are a growing team and looking forward to adding a new team member who believes in our organization’s values of leading with integrity, championing equity and committing ourselves to discovery. New graduates are welcome to apply if program is completed and temporary license is minimally pending. Credentialling is required prior to starting work.

Hours for the position are M-F day shift.

Essential Job Functions:

Core Responsibilities for all Genetic Counselors:

• Proficient in the Core Skills of Genetic Counseling as outline by the National society of Genetic Counselors.
  • Deep and broad knowledge of genetics.
  • Ability to tailor, translate and communicate complex information in a simple, relevant way for a broad range of audiences.
  • Strong interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence and self-awareness.
  • Ability to dissect and analyze complex problems.
  • Research skills (self-education).
  • In-depth knowledge of healthcare delivery.

• Performs job functions adhering to Lurie Children’s service principles and mission

The following list of responsibilities may or may not be applicable based on your individual position and job responsibilities.

Clinical Genetic Counselor Responsibilities:

• Communicates test results to patients/families, referring physicians, primary care physicians and other appropriate clinicians.
• Coordinates and communicate all aspects of post evaluation patient follow up.
• Writes proper documentation of patient visit and visit letters.  Generate other letters for patient case as needed.
• Helps coordinate general and specialty genetics clinics as assigned.
• Serves as the liaison between specialty services involved in the care of children with genetic disorders and assist with case management of medically complex patients.
• Coordinates genetic testing of patient and appropriate family members, including obtaining insurance authorization.
• Provides education on the natural history, management, genetics, and inheritance of genetic disorders with language tailored to patients and families.
• Performs psychosocial assessment and provides appropriate support and resources to patients and families in the coping of their genetic diagnosis or medical condition.
• Participates in inpatient consultations.
• Participates in genetic counseling on-call rotation and performs duties such as fielding telephone calls from clinicians and patients requesting genetics information, assessing referrals to Genetics and determining appropriate scheduling of patient, triaging urgent patient calls, etc.
• Keeps up to date on latest clinical and research developments in medical genetics.
• Masters all necessary functions in Epic or current Lurie Children’s electronic medical record software.
• Other responsibilities as they arise that are within the genetic counselor’s scope of practice.

Laboratory Utilization Management Genetic Counselor Responsibilities:

• Functions as a liaison between laboratory and clinicians to address questions regarding genetic testing and to help ensure appropriate patient referral.
• Screens and reviews orders for genetic tests, whether in-house or sent to reference laboratories.  Recommends alternative genetic testing based on analysis of the risk, benefit and cost.
• Reviews clinical and family histories as required to outline appropriate genetic testing strategy for ordering clinician.
• Provide guidance on obtaining insurance authorization for genetic testing and facilitate the process.
• Maintains list of referral testing sites and maintains communication with referral laboratory representatives.
• Reviews test results by performing necessary literature searches to integrate new discoveries with clinical diagnoses and test interpretation.  Effectively communicate this information to ordering clinicians.
• Coordinates appropriate follow up testing with ordering clinicians based on results of the proband and assessment of risk for family members and future pregnancy.
• Provides written documentation/reports of test results, summaries, recommendations, and support groups.
• Works with laboratory management and clinicians to consolidate genetic reference lab testing on an ongoing basis to minimize the number of laboratories used and negotiate the lowest cost per test.
• Assist laboratory revenue cycle coordinator with the establishment of CPT coding for genetic tests to ensure regulatory compliance.
• Other responsibilities as they arise that are within the genetic counselor’s scope of practice.

Molecular Laboratory Genetic Counselor Responsibilities:

• Along with laboratory directors, perform data interpretation and analysis for in house genetic tests, including reviewing relevant patient and family histories to correlate test results.
• Generates written documentation/reports of test results and includes disease summaries, recommendations, and support group information.
• Communicates genetic test results with appropriate follow up recommendations and facilitates or provides genetic counseling services as requested by healthcare providers.
• Performs necessary literature searches to integrate new discoveries with clinical diagnoses and test interpretation.
• Participates in molecular laboratory new test development.
• Maintain and develop standard operating procedures (SOP) or workflows for optimization of in-house genetic testing interpretation, reporting and curation.
• Screens and reviews orders for genetic tests, whether in-house or sent to reference laboratories, and when appropriate, recommend alternative genetic testing approach based on analysis of the risk, benefit and cost.
• Assist laboratory revenue cycle coordinator with the establishment of CPT coding for genetic tests to ensure regulatory compliance.
• Other responsibilities as they arise that are within the genetic counselor’s scope of practice.

Research Genetic Counselor Responsibilities:

• Conducts study start-up activities and prepares and maintains all regulatory documents required by sponsor and/or regulatory agencies.
• Prepares protocols, informed consent documents, modifications, renewals, and other necessary documents for review by the IRB and/or sponsor.
• Coordinates study activities with other research departments to effectively implement clinical research projects. This includes
  • Obtaining required letters of support and/or approvals as needed (i.e., IBC, SRC, etc.).
  • Monitoring protocols are followed.
• Obtains high level of knowledge regarding specific condition(s) which is(are) the subject of the research study to provide education on the natural history, management, genetics, and inheritance of genetic disorders with language tailored to study participants and families.
• Identifies, verifies, and recruits eligible study participants and conducts the informed consent/assent process. This includes:
  • Communicating with appropriate clinical team members to identify eligible patients
  • Using functions in Epic such as SlicerDicer to identify eligible patients
  • Attending meetings and patient gatherings to spread awareness of research being conducted at our organization
• Performs study participant research visits. This includes:
  • Scheduling necessary study assessments and procedures per study protocol
  • Preparing laboratory/specimen collection kits and ensuring samples are processed and sent out appropriately
  • Communicating with research partners such as CRU, research pharmacy, research laboratory, and other applicable departments regarding study visit
  • Communicating with study participants regarding their study visit so participants understand scheduled study procedures
  • Facilitating travel and reimbursement for study participants if applicable
• Conducts site qualification, study initiation, monitoring and/or close-out visits.
• Communicates with study sponsor and study vendors and responds to queries/requests promptly.
• Records, submits, and maintains study data and documents as outlined in study protocols. This includes:
  • Abstracting data from medical records and enters medical information/data onto protocol specific case report forms, study flow sheets, and other required study forms
  • Preparing abstracted/coded data for processing/analysis
  • Recording data on source documents and CRF’s and/or electronic web-based systems
  • Creating and/or updating case report forms and/or source document templates
  • Maintaining all study documents such as regulatory binders, source documents, correspondence, etc. as required by sponsor and/or regulatory agencies.
• Monitors, documents, and reports adverse events as required.
• Maintains inventory of research related supplies, lab kits, and equipment.
• Functions as a patient liaison and addresses study questions, billing issues, barriers to compliance, etc. and appropriately communicates with study patient’s clinical team as needed.
• Assists with QA/QC procedures and QA/QC checks for database validity and data monitoring.
• Tracks study progress and deadlines for grants/deliverables.
• Attends investigator meetings.
• Contributes on the preparation of abstracts/posters for scientific meetings and manuscripts for publication.
• Continues to learn new research methods, tools, systems, and scientific principles.
• Promotes the ethical conduct of research by actively participating in research related educational meetings/conferences (planning, presenting, etc.).
• Adheres to research protocol in compliance with applicable institutional, local and federal regulations (OHRP, FDA, GCP, etc.).
• Other responsibilities as they arise that are within the genetic counselor’s scope of practice.

Research Activities not associated with Research Genetic Counselor Responsibilities:

• Identifies appropriate research opportunities for patients; and if desired by patients, facilitates patient participation.
• For laboratory-based GCs, participates in laboratory research initiatives, including data curation and Precision Medicine initiatives when applicable.

Education Activities:

• Participate in student education by supervising genetic counseling students and medical students and working with residents, fellows, APN students and nutrition students during their rotation in Genetics.
• Provide education to fellow Genetics team members by sharing information from meetings, conferences, journal clubs, and other educational resources.
• Provides shadowing opportunities or professional advice to those interested in the genetic counseling field.
• For laboratory based GCs, participates in educational activities for referring clinicians, laboratory staff, students, and community healthcare partners on genetic disorders, available genetic tests and general information on genetic test techniques.

Advocacy Activities:

• Participate in family support, education and patient advocacy programs.

Leadership and Professional Development Activities:

• Participate in various Division or Hospital committees, programs or working groups.
• Active members of various professional societies such as GTFI, NSGC, ASHG, ACMG, SIMD, etc.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Education: Master’s degree from an accredited genetic counseling graduate program
• Certification/Licensure/Registration: Active IL Genetic Counseling License
• Years of Relevant Experience: none
• For research genetic counselors, maintains CITI certifications outlined by IRB to serve as study coordinators
• Computer Skills (i.e. Software/Hardware): Microsoft Office Programs
• Equipment: None
• Other Skills (i.e. Project Management, Negotiation)

Education

Pay Range

$83,200.00-$137,280.00 Salary

At Lurie Children’s, we are committed to competitive and fair compensation aligned with market rates and internal equity, reflecting individual contributions, experience, and expertise. The pay range for this job indicates minimum and maximum targets for the position. Ranges are regularly reviewed to stay aligned with market conditions. In addition to base salary, Lurie Children’s offer a comprehensive rewards package that may include differentials for some hourly employees, leadership incentives for select roles, health and retirement benefits, and wellbeing programs. For more details on other compensation, consult your recruiter or click the following link to learn more about our benefits.

Benefit Statement

For full time and part time employees who work 20 or more hours per week we offer a generous benefits package that includes:

Medical, dental and vision insurance

Employer paid group term life and disability

Employer contribution toward Health Savings Account

Flexible Spending Accounts

Paid Time Off (PTO), Paid Holidays and Paid Parental Leave

403(b) with a 5% employer match

Various voluntary benefits:

• Supplemental Life, AD&D and Disability
• Critical Illness, Accident and Hospital Indemnity coverage
• Tuition assistance
• Student loan servicing and support
• Adoption benefits
• Backup Childcare and Eldercare
• Employee Assistance Program, and other specialized behavioral health services and resources for employees and family members
• Discount on services at Lurie Children’s facilities
• Discount purchasing program

There’s a Place for You with Us

At Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and its affiliates (collectively “Lurie Children’s”), we embrace and celebrate diversity and equity in a serious way. We are committed to building a team with a variety of backgrounds, skills, and viewpoints — recognizing that diverse identities strengthen our workplace and the care we can provide to the Chicago community and beyond. We treat everyone fairly, appreciate differences, and make meaningful connections that foster belonging and allyship. This is a place where you can be your best, so we can give our best to the patients and families who trust us with their care.  

Lurie Children’s and its affiliates are equal employment opportunity employers.  We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, pregnancy, protected veteran status, order of protection status, protected genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

For questions about how to request an accommodation please contact: employeehealth@luriechildrens.org

AI Notice 

Lurie Children’s utilizes certain AI-enabled features within our recruiting platform to support candidate engagement and assist recruiters in identifying and prioritizing applicants whose experience aligns with job requirements. All employment decisions are made by individuals.

It is a civil rights violation with respect to recruitment, hiring, promotion, or employment for an employer to use artificial intelligence that has the effect of subjecting employees to discrimination on the basis of protected classes under the Illinois Human Rights Act or to use zip codes as a proxy for protected classes.

For questions about the use of artificial intelligence in this process or any additional support, please contact: peoplequestions@luriechildrens.org