Positive impact of genetic counseling assistants on genetic counseling efficiency, patient volume, and cost in a cancer genetics clinic

Hallquist, Miranda L. G.; Tricou, Eric P.; Hallquist, Michael N.; Savatt, Juliann M.; Rocha, Heather; Evans, Alyson E.; Deckard, Nicole; Hu, Yirui; Kirchner, H. Lester; Pervola, Josie; Rahm, Alanna Kulchak; Rashkin, Misha; Schmidlen, Tara; Schwartz, Marci; Williams, Janet L.; Williams, Marc S.; Buchanan, Adam H.

doi:10.1038/s41436-020-0797-2

Cited by 22 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 19 publications

(22 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…One way to address inadequate support staff may be the addition of genetic counseling assistants (GCAs) to help the GC work at the top of their scope of practice (Pirzadeh‐Miller, Robinson, Read, & Ross, 2017). In fact, a recent study of clinical metrics both pre‐ and post‐implementation of GCAs in a cancer genetics setting demonstrated increased GC efficiency, increased patient volume, and decreased clinic cost per patient (Hallquist et al, 2020). Yet according to the 2018 PSS, 10% of clinical GCs reported having no administrative/support staff available to them, presumably leaving clerical work to the GC, which reduces available time for clinical care (NSGC, 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As these efforts expand, utilizing outcomes measures and incorporating them into the evaluation of SDMs can result in beneficial research into the efficacy of new SDMs. For example, there is room for further work in exploring the cost savings related to having a GCA in specialty areas other than cancer, which will be important as justification is often needed for the creation of new positions (Hallquist et al, 2020; Pirzadeh‐Miller et al, 2017). In addition, genetic counselors will continue to push toward increasingly innovative models of services delivery such as the incorporation of chatbots for consent and other tasks (Schmidlen, Schwartz, DiLoreto, Kirchner, & Sturm, 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Genetic counseling service delivery models: A study of genetic counselors’ interests, needs, and barriers to implementation

Boothe

Greenberg

Delaney

et al. 2020

Journal of Genetic Counseling

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

As demand for genetic services grows, innovative genetic counseling service delivery models (SDMs) are needed. However, there is limited research on the barriers and needs of genetic counselors (GCs) interested in implementing new SDMs into their practice. In fall 2017, the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) Access and Service Delivery Committee’s SDM Subcommittee sent an online survey to the NSGC membership regarding the use of SDMs, which aimed to update the understanding of current SDM use and how this has changed over time. The survey included several questions with open‐response components assessing the need for new SDMs and barriers to implementation. Inductive thematic analysis was used to identify common themes. Among 517 usable responses (16% response rate), more than half (54.4%) of respondents indicated their current SDM was inadequate to address the patient need in their area. Nearly two‐thirds (64.8%) indicated they were in the process of or planning to make changes to their SDM, although 40.6% did not have a specific timeline. Three major themes related to expanding access, reimbursement for services, and lack of support were identified from responses to questions about implementation of additional SDMs. Access included subthemes of geographic and physical location limitations, addressing long wait times, and the need to expand services. Reimbursement for services included issues with billing, genetic counselor licensure, and limitations due to the need for physician involvement in billing. The lack of support was evident with issues related to understaffing; difficulty gaining support at the administrative, institutional, or physician level; time constraints; and funding concerns. This study shows that GCs need education, tools, and resources to overcome barriers in implementing new or adapting current SDMs, and there is a need for policy change, including new billing and coverage models.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic counseling service delivery models: A study of genetic counselors’ interests, needs, and barriers to implementation

Boothe

Greenberg

Delaney

et al. 2020

Journal of Genetic Counseling

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…GCAs can be used to complete administrative tasks and pre- and post-appointment activities that traditionally were completed by genetic counselors including family history collection/pedigrees, obtaining relevant records prior to consult and in some models, result disclosure after genetic counseling. This model has been found to increase patient volume and save costs per patient [ 81 ]. The goal of some ADMs is to reduce geographic and access barriers to patients receiving genetic counseling.…”

Section: Strategies To Address Increasing Demand For Inherited Cancer Servicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

An overview of genetic services delivery for hereditary breast cancer

Reid

Spalluto

Lang

et al. 2022

Breast Cancer Res Treat

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women worldwide, with approximately 5–10% of cases attributed to high penetrance hereditary breast cancer (HBC) genes. The tremendous advances in precision oncology have broadened indications for germline genetic testing to guide both systemic and surgical treatment, with increasing demand for cancer genetic services. The HBC continuum of care includes (1) identification, access, and uptake of genetic counseling and testing; (2) the delivery of genetic counseling and testing services; and (3) initiation of guideline-adherent follow-up care and family communication of results. Challenges to delivering care on the HBC care continuum include factors such as access to services, cost, discrimination and bias, and lack of education and awareness, which can be mitigated through implementing a multi-level approach. This includes strategies such as increasing awareness and utilization of genetic counseling and testing, developing new methods to meet the growing demand for genetic services, and improving the uptake of follow-up care by increasing patient and provider awareness of the management recommendations.

show abstract

“…Offering group pretest genetic counseling and providing a choice of phone results disclosure both save time for genetic counselors (24,88). The addition of genetic counseling assistants to the medical genetics clinic team is another way to increase genetic counselors' efficiency by enabling genetic counselors to work at the top of their scope of practice and focus primarily on direct patient care (35,72). Incorporating technology into the delivery of pre-or posttest genetic counseling has also been explored as an approach to scale genetic counseling practice.…”

Section: Exploring Alternative Service Delivery Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scaling Genetic Counseling in the Genomics Era

Amendola

Golden‐Grant

Scollon

2021

Annu. Rev. Genom. Hum. Genet.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The development of massively parallel sequencing–based genomic sequencing tests has increased genetic test availability and access. The field and practice of genetic counseling have adapted in response to this paradigm-shifting technology and the subsequent transition to practicing genomic medicine. While the key elements defining genetic counseling remain relevant, genetic counseling service delivery models and practice settings have evolved. Genetic counselors are addressing the challenges of direct-to-consumer and consumer-driven genetic testing, and genetic counseling training programs are responding to the ongoing increased demand for genetic counseling services across a broadening range of contexts. The need to diversify both the patient and participant groups with access to genetic information, as well as the field of genetic counseling, is at the forefront of research and training program initiatives. Genetic counselors are key stakeholders in the genomics era, and their contributions are essential to effectively and equitably deliver precision medicine. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Genomics and Human Genetics Volume 22 is August 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

show abstract

Positive impact of genetic counseling assistants on genetic counseling efficiency, patient volume, and cost in a cancer genetics clinic

Cited by 22 publications

References 19 publications

Genetic counseling service delivery models: A study of genetic counselors’ interests, needs, and barriers to implementation

Genetic counseling service delivery models: A study of genetic counselors’ interests, needs, and barriers to implementation

An overview of genetic services delivery for hereditary breast cancer

Scaling Genetic Counseling in the Genomics Era

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About