Genetics Counsellor Heart Lung Vascular & Neurology Program

The Heart, Lung, and Vascular Program aims to promote and restore the health and well-being of individuals and families affected by heart, lung, and vascular disease. Our services help patients and their families learn about treatments, identify risk factors and work toward making heart-and lung-healthy lifestyle changes. Our objectives demonstrate our commitment to the promotion of health in education, clinical care, and research.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Clinical Genetics

The Genetic Counsellor will independently assess the unique medical/genetic needs of individual cases for the purpose of providing appropriate counselling, education, testing options, and follow-up.

• Under the authority of cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, and respirology physicians, provide clinical counselling services to families with hereditary heart, lung and/or vascular conditions as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Support clinical teaching to genetic counselling medical students and professional colleagues.
• Perform administrative responsibilities to ensure the effective management of individual cases, acting as an advocate for patients, performing cross-functional duties, as assigned or requested.
• Explain the nature of genetics evaluation to clients.

• Obtain and review medical and family histories, based on the referral indication, and document the family history using standard pedigree nomenclature.
• Identify additional client and family medical information relevant to risk assessment and consideration of differential diagnoses, and assist in obtaining such information.

• Research and summarize pertinent data from the published literature, databases, and other professional resources, as necessary for each client.
• Synthesize client and family medical information and data obtained from additional research as the basis for risk assessment, differential diagnosis, genetic testing options, follow-up recommendations, and case management.
• Assess the risk of occurrence or recurrence of a genetic condition or birth defect, using a variety of techniques, including knowledge of inheritance patterns, epidemiologic data, quantitative genetics principles, statistical models, and evaluation of clinical information, as applicable.
• Explain to clients, verbally and/or in writing, medical information regarding the diagnosis or potential occurrence of a genetic condition or birth defect, including etiology, natural history, inheritance, disease management and potential treatment options.
• In collaborative with the larger clinical team, discuss available options and delineate the risks, benefits and limitations of appropriate tests and clinical assessments.
• In collaboration with physicians, order tests and perform clinical assessments in accordance with provincial and federal regulations. Interpret laboratory results and communicate findings to patients or physicians.
• In collaboration with physicians, determine or coordinate treatment plans by requesting laboratory services, reviewing genetics or counseling literature, and considering histories or diagnostic data.
• Document case information clearly and concisely in the medical record and in correspondence to referring physicians, and discuss case information with other members of the healthcare team.
• Assist clients in evaluating the risks, benefits and limitations of participation in research, and facilitate the informed consent process.
• Identify and access local, regional, and national resources such as support groups and ancillary services; discuss the availability of such resources with clients; and provide referrals, as necessary.
• Provide information to other healthcare providers and to patient and family members concerned with the risk of inherited conditions.
• Evaluate or make recommendations for standards of care or clinical operations, ensuring compliance with applicable regulations, ethics, legislation, or policies.

Counselling and Communication

• Develop a genetic counseling agenda with the client or clients that includes identification and negotiation of client/counsellor priorities and expectations.
• Identify individual client and family experiences, behaviors, emotions, perceptions, values, and cultural and religious beliefs in order to facilitate individualized decision making and coping.
• Assess client understanding and response to medical information and its implications, and educate client appropriately.
• Utilize appropriate interviewing techniques and empathic listening to establish rapport, identify major concerns and engage clients in an exploration of their responses to the implications of the findings, genetic risks, and available options/interventions.
• Identify the client's psychological needs, stressors and sources of emotional and psychological support, such as fear of test results or financial issues, in order to determine appropriate interventions and/or referrals.
• Promote client-specific decision making in an unbiased non-coercive manner that respects the client's culture, language, traditions, lifestyle, religious beliefs and values.
• Use knowledge of psychological structure to apply client-centered techniques and family systems theory to facilitate adjustment to the occurrence or risk of occurrence of a congenital or genetic disorder.
• Recognize and respond to ethical and moral dilemmas arising in practice, identify factors that promote or hinder client autonomy, and understand issues surrounding privacy, informed consent, confidentiality, real or potential discrimination and potential conflicts of interest.
• Advocate for clients, which includes understanding client needs and perceptions, representing their interests in accessing services, and eliciting responses from the medical and social service systems as well as the community at large.
• Recognize personal limitations in knowledge and/or capabilities and seek consultation or appropriately refer clients to other providers.
• Maintain professional growth, which includes acquiring relevant information required for a given situation, keeping abreast of current standards of practice as well as societal developments, and seeking out or establishing mechanisms for peer support.
• Respect a client's right to confidentiality, being mindful of all regulations governing release of personal health information.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Undergraduate degree in Biology, Genetic or Health Sciences is required
• Master of Science in Genetic Counselling or Human Genetics is required
• You must be Board Certified or Board Eligible with the ABGC - American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) and/or Canadian Association of Genetic Counsellors (CAGC)
• Minimum of two (2) years previous work experience as a Genetic Counsellor in a complex health care environment an asset.
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients and professionals.
• Ability to work independently as well as with a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to effectively analyze problems, interpret needs and develop creative solutions.
• Ability to interact with people from all disciplines/levels, be flexible/adaptable to change and maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to take initiative and work in a self-directed manner.
• Ability to effectively handle situations where information is difficult to obtain or complex.
• Excellent interpersonal and listening skills with the ability to effectively interact with staff all levels.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Detail oriented with excellent analytical skills.
• Ability to adapt to a wide variety of patient populations and needs.
• Demonstrated ability in problem solving.
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate effective teamwork among a group of multi-disciplinary professionals.
• Proven ability to plan, organize and coordinate various activities.
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities and balance multiple, disparate tasks.
• Proficiency in the use of computers
• Demonstrated commitment to and understanding of the Hospitals Mission and values.

Unity Health Toronto is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We strive to provide a recruitment process that is barrier-free and in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the Ontario Human Rights Code. We understand that you may require an accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process. When you are contacted, please inform the Talent Acquisition Specialist and we will work with you to meet your accommodation needs. We want to emphasize that all accommodation requests are handled with the utmost confidentiality, respecting your privacy and dignity.