Psychometrician

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About Duke University Hospital

Pursue your passion for caring with Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, which is consistently ranked among the best in the United States. The largest of Duke Health's four hospitals with 1062 patient beds, it features comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, including a regional emergency/trauma center, an endo-surgery center, and more.

Location: Duke Neurology, Durham, NC

Work Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (40 hours/week)

General Summary

Perform routine and complex procedures to obtain clinical neurobehavioral data for use in diagnoses of neurological disorders. Such data is collected utilizing standardized, objective test measures of cognition, and mood/personality when needed. Extensive hours in direct patient contact are required, calling for professional, enthusiastic, and service-oriented clinical data technicians.

Work Performed

Level 1

• Verify the test menu order and prepare protocols. Transition the patient into testing after an interview with the neuropsychologist. Independently administer and score neuropsychological tests to neurological, psychiatric, or medical patients in a standardized manner in accordance with lab policy.
• Ensure all measures adhere to objective, detailed start, stop/discontinue, scoring, and conversion rules. Complete behavioral observation sheets for each patient, rating the integrity of vision, test engagement, motor functioning, etc., as outlined.
• Alert the supervising neuropsychologist when there is any challenge to test score validity (e.g., effort/test engagement, sensory/motor abnormalities, patient discomfort, or agitation).
• Communicate routinely with the neuropsychologist about patient progress (e.g., any challenges, time remaining, completion). Ensure patient comfort throughout the testing process (typically 3-5 hours).
• Maximize patient test engagement and data validity.
• Convert all raw data to standardized normed scores per protocol and summarize it in the data sheet.
• Perform data entry into the clinical database.

Level 2

• Performs all duties of a Level 1 Psychometrician, along with the additional roles, duties, and responsibilities listed below:
  • Preceptor for employees moving into the Psychometrician role.
  • Assists in guiding the professional growth of others through modeling, coaching, and/or mentoring.
  • Trained and competency maintained to perform pediatric/adolescent studies.
  • Trained and competency maintained to perform studies for patients admitted to the hospital.
  • Trained and competency maintained to perform testing for specialized populations (e.g., DBS, epilepsy, and other special testing needs).
  • Responsible for completion of at least three department operational tasks, including but not limited to: patient scheduling, patient appointment reminder communications, charge capture and reconciliation, maintaining protocol inventory.
  • Actively participates in research projects, demonstrating involvement/ongoing activity each quarter (e.g., ACT/NFL).
  • Participates in the development and oversight of PI projects.
  • Leads daily team huddles.
  • Submits an article/poster for publication.
  • Leads at least one CNS in-service.
  • Chairs an internal departmental committee with monthly meetings and agendas.
  • Participates in special projects negotiated with the manager.
  • Actively reviews and participates in the quality assurance process under the direct supervision of the department manager.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Interviewing Skills
• Software Statistical Analysis
• Lab Procedures Evoked Potential
• Experience with administering psychological tests preferred (not required).

Level Characteristics

N/A

Minimum Qualifications

Education

• Level 1: Work requires a Bachelor's Degree (B.S. or B.A.). A degree in psychology, biology, or a related field is preferred.
• Level 2: Work requires a Bachelor's Degree (B.S. or B.A.). A degree in psychology, biology, or a related field is preferred.

Experience

• Level 1: 6 months of experience in a healthcare setting. A Master's degree in biology, psychology, or a related field may be substituted for up to 2 years' experience.
• Level 2: 2 years working as a psychometrician.

Degrees, Licensures, Certifications

No formal certification. Work is conducted under the supervision of licensed Ph.D. level neuropsychologists.

Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation or military status.

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Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.