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Genetic counseling in the time of COVID‐19: The Philippine experience with telegenetics
Author(s) -
Tumulak MaAm Joy R.,
Pascua Angela V.,
Jover Edbert Jasper M.,
Guerbo Romer J.,
Canoy Graciel Mae R.,
Laurino Mercy Y.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of genetic counseling
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.867
H-Index - 52
eISSN - 1573-3599
pISSN - 1059-7700
DOI - 10.1002/jgc4.1518
Subject(s) - genetic counseling , covid-19 , public health , human genetics , medicine , pandemic , family medicine , genetics , virology , nursing , biology , pathology , disease , outbreak , gene , infectious disease (medical specialty)
The COVID‐19 pandemic poses a significant challenge to healthcare professionals and health systems around the world, most notably the disruption of its service delivery. The typical work setting for most genetic counselors (GCs) is in a clinic or hospital. However, during the COVID‐19 pandemic, to help prevent the further spread of the virus, clinics and hospitals have restricted non‐urgent in‐person delivery of healthcare services, including genetic counseling. Patients’ access to genetic counseling services has thus been limited, which prompted GCs in the country to utilize an alternative way to provide counseling through telegenetics. With the expansion of genetic services in the country, including the full implementation of expanded newborn screening, there is an increasing demand for genetic counseling and a growing need for telegenetics.