title: A time study of cancer genetic counselors using a genetic counselor-only patient care model versus a traditional combined genetic counselor plus medical geneticist care model.
abstract: Analyses of time-based effort have determined that clinical genetic services are labor-intensive, although these data derive primarily from studying geneticists' efforts in the pediatric model. No studies have investigated the time and patient care activities of cancer genetic counselors (GCs) in traditional clinics with a medical geneticist (GC/MD) compared with genetic counselor-only (GCO) appointments. In this study, 6 GCs prospectively tracked time spent in patient care activities in both clinical settings. The authors found that overall, GCs' time spent per patient was lower for GCO versus GC/MD visits. No differences were seen in time spent on results disclosure, but differences were noted in case preparation, face-to-face, and follow-up times. Furthermore, no differences were seen in number of case preparation activities or topics covered during a session. These data suggest that GCO visits result in better use of GCs' time, without a trade-off in number of patient-related activities.
authors.affiliation: From the aGenomic Medicine Institute; bTaussig Cancer Institute; and cSanford R. Weiss M.D. Center for Hereditary Colorectal Cancer, Digestive Diseases Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio; dDepartments of Internal Medicine and Human Genetics and eCardiovascular Center, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan; fGeneDx, Gaithersburg, Maryland; gStanley Shalom Zielony Institute of Nursing Excellence, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio; and hDepartment of Genetics and Genome Sciences, CASE Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: Brandie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Heald
authors.forename: Shanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gustafson
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mester
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arscott
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moline
authors.forename: Charis
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eng
mesh_terms: D003376:Counseling; D005817:Genetic Counseling / Q000379:methods; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005791:Patient Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors