TY - JOUR
AU - R. Vanneste
AU - S. A. Bauer
AU - K. Borle
AU - E. Dreikorn
A1 - 
AB - Collectively, rare diseases are common, affecting approximately 8% of the population in Canada and the USA. Therefore, the majority of primary care (PC) clinicians will care for patients who are affected or at risk for a genetic disease. Considering the increasing ways in which genetics is being implemented into all areas of healthcare, one way to address these needs and expand the capacity of the PC workforce is through the integration of genetic counselors (GCs) into PC multidisciplinary teams. GCs are Masters-educated allied health professionals with specialized training in molecular genetics, communication, and short-term psychotherapeutic counseling. The current models of GCs in PC mimic other multidisciplinary models. Complex tasks related to genetics, such as pre- and post-test counseling, genetic test selection, and results interpretation, are conducted by GCs, which, in turn, allows physicians, nurse practitioners, and other PC providers to work at the top of their scope of practice. Quality genetics services provided by GCs improve clinical outcomes for patients and their families; the simultaneous provision of genetic education and psychological support by a GC is associated with an increase in patient knowledge, perceived personal control, decrease in distress, and can lead to positive health behavior changes, all of which are aligned with the goals of primary healthcare. With their extensive training in clinical care, medical communication, and psychotherapeutic counseling, integrating GCs into PC care teams will improve the care patients receive and allow PC clinicians to ensure their patients are at the forefront of the personalized medicine revolution.
AD - Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 0W8, Canada.; Department of Medical Oncology, UW Health Northern Illinois, Rockford, IL 61114, United States.; Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.; Clinical Translational Science Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States.
AN - 39441176
BT - Fam Pract
C5 - Education & Workforce; Healthcare Disparities
CP - 2
DA - Feb 7
DO - 10.1093/fampra/cmae057
DP - NLM
IS - 2
JF - Fam Pract
LA - eng
N2 - Collectively, rare diseases are common, affecting approximately 8% of the population in Canada and the USA. Therefore, the majority of primary care (PC) clinicians will care for patients who are affected or at risk for a genetic disease. Considering the increasing ways in which genetics is being implemented into all areas of healthcare, one way to address these needs and expand the capacity of the PC workforce is through the integration of genetic counselors (GCs) into PC multidisciplinary teams. GCs are Masters-educated allied health professionals with specialized training in molecular genetics, communication, and short-term psychotherapeutic counseling. The current models of GCs in PC mimic other multidisciplinary models. Complex tasks related to genetics, such as pre- and post-test counseling, genetic test selection, and results interpretation, are conducted by GCs, which, in turn, allows physicians, nurse practitioners, and other PC providers to work at the top of their scope of practice. Quality genetics services provided by GCs improve clinical outcomes for patients and their families; the simultaneous provision of genetic education and psychological support by a GC is associated with an increase in patient knowledge, perceived personal control, decrease in distress, and can lead to positive health behavior changes, all of which are aligned with the goals of primary healthcare. With their extensive training in clinical care, medical communication, and psychotherapeutic counseling, integrating GCs into PC care teams will improve the care patients receive and allow PC clinicians to ensure their patients are at the forefront of the personalized medicine revolution.
PY - 2025
SN - 0263-2136 (Print); 0263-2136
ST - Expanding the primary care workforce by integrating genetic counselors in multidisciplinary care teams
T1 - Expanding the primary care workforce by integrating genetic counselors in multidisciplinary care teams
T2 - Fam Pract
TI - Expanding the primary care workforce by integrating genetic counselors in multidisciplinary care teams
U1 - Education & Workforce; Healthcare Disparities
U3 - 10.1093/fampra/cmae057
VL - 42
VO - 0263-2136 (Print); 0263-2136
Y1 - 2025
ER -