Provision of risk assessment and genetic testing and counseling is a Commission on Cancer Standard, but delivering these services to rural areas can present challenges. St. Luke’s Mountain States Tumor Institute (MSTI) addressed two major barriers, access to qualified genetic specialists and patient identification, through a two-pronged approach—telehealth and weekly chart review.
The result: improved convenience and access, cost savings, and improved quality of care. Telehealth enabled MSTI to expand its genetic counseling footprint, increasing the number of appointments and dropping appointment wait times from 23 days to 16 days. Weekly new patient chart review by genetic counselors improved identification of patients and families in need of genetic counseling services, increasing the total number of applicable patients offered genetics evaluation from 58% (2010) to 70% (2011).
Listen to a full recording of MSTI's presentation at the ACCC 30th National Oncology Conference. (Available to ACCC members only.)