June 05, 2023
The power of genomics to deliver better health outcomes for patients is a reality today. However, health professionals in Canada, who are at the front line in delivering and realizing these benefits for the patients they look after, are often not being equipped with the appropriate amount of genomics knowledge and effective decision support tools. This has also been highlighted as a weakness across Canada in both the recent State of Readiness Report of genome based testing and 2023 Watch List: Top 10 Precision Medicine Technologies and Issues | CADTH.
That’s why we’re joining this year’s Healthcare Professionals Genomics Education Week in partnership with the National Human Genome Research Institute to share important resources to help BC health professionals and their patients learn more about the potential of genomics. This is the first of five blog posts based on daily themes.
Today’s theme: Genomics Education & Pathways BC
In developing Genome BC’s Genomics Education for Health Professionals (GEHP) Implementation Framework, we clearly heard that health professionals in BC do not want to be experts in the rapidly changing and advancing field of genetics. However, it is important that they understand the relevance to their daily practice to deliver the best patient care. They are looking for guidelines for who can order testing in what specific clinical scenarios, simplified and centralized referral and test ordering processes, as well as tools to assist in time consuming tasks such as patient consent and managing patient needs post results disclosure.
BC is fortunate to have an existing solution to house this critical information to support point-of-care tools. Pathways is a groundbreaking, made in BC online resource that makes it quick and easy for healthcare providers to find the handouts, websites, and services that patients need. It also provides access to referral information, including wait times and areas of expertise of specialists and specialty clinics.
Genome BC is proud to have supported the development of the first draft of the which is available to healthcare professionals to help them understand when referrals to genetic assessment may be helpful if there is a suspected genetic basis to the patient presentation/condition. Working in partnership with the clinical ecosystem, this referral algorithm highlights the various genetics clinical services that can support patients through testing, as well as mainstream testing options available for clinicians that are comfortable ordering and supporting genetic testing on their own. This is in addition to the prenatal genetic screening processes already highlighted in the Early Pregnancy Care Pathway.
The updated resources on Pathways BC are just one piece of the toolbox to support genetic assessment and testing in BC. In the Genome BC 2023 Genomics Forum session The Pathway Forward we learned from our panel of clinical genetics specialists and primary care providers that it will take a collaborative approach including government, health care providers, patients and funders to develop a sustainable toolbox of resources to address the barriers to the clinical implementation of ensure patients getting the right test at the right time and have better outcomes for patients in BC. Genome BC looks forward to continuing to work with the ecosystem to build and access additional resources to build more genomics literacy within our healthcare system.
GenomeEd resources we’re excited about:
1 – UTHealth Adult Cardiovascular Genomics Certificate Program – McGovern Medical School
A free case based genomics modules designed for non-genetic specialists to increase the awareness of heritable cardiac conditions and improve recognition and referral of these patient to genetic services. Can be used for self-reported CME credit.
2 – Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Genetic Testing FAQ for Healthcare Professionals
Designed to help busy practitioners understand the benefits and limitations of DTC tests and help their patients understand how to use this information in their health decision making.
