title: Increasing utilization of cancer genetic counseling services using a patient navigator model.
abstract: Rarely has utilization of genetic counseling for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (HBOC) been studied separately from utilization of testing. At Kaiser Permanente Colorado, consistently only 30% of all members referred for HBOC attend genetic counseling. To increase the volume of genetic counseling appointments, a patient navigator approach was pilot tested in a randomized-controlled trial over 3 months. A total of 125 members were referred for HBOC genetic counseling (55 randomized to PN, 70 randomized to usual care). Utilization of referrals for Navigator-assisted members was 44%, compared to 31% in the usual care arm (p=0.16). The patient navigator significantly decreased time to appointment, with over 80% of Navigator-assisted members seen for genetic counseling less than three months from referral date, compared to 32% in usual care (p=0.002). patient navigator assistance shortens time from referral to appointment for HBOC genetic counseling, and may increase utilization of such services.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Unit, Kaiser Permanente Colorado, Denver, Colorado, USA. alanna.k.rahm@kp.org
authors.forename: Alanna Kulchak
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Rahm
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sukhanova
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mouchawar
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D003120:Colorado; D005260:Female; D005817:Genetic Counseling / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D017146:Models, Organizational; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D017749:Total Quality Management