Alternate Delivery Models for Genetic Counseling in Prostate Cancer

Alanna K. Rahm, PhD, MS, an assistant professor at Geisinger Genomic Medicine Institute, discusses alternate delivery models for genetic counseling in prostate cancer.

Telehealth programs offer another option to provide genetic counseling to patients, says Rahm.

Additionally, genetic counseling assistants and non-genetics providers can alleviate some of the burden for genetic counselors who are overextended, explains Rahm. Often, the counseling pre-test can be conducted by a genetic counseling assistant or a non-genetics counselor, and then the genetic counselor will conduct the follow-up with the patient.

These alternate delivery models increase access to genetic counseling for patients, explains Rahm.

Improved access to genetic counseling ensures that guidelines are followed, and patients are tested. Moreover, increased testing will lead to comprehensive understanding of which men should receive genetic testing, concludes Rahm.