Dr John Fox Emphasizes the Importance of Genetic Counseling Before, After Genetic Testing

Offering patients genetic counseling before and after they receive genetic testing is crucial for making sure they understand what the results mean, explained John Fox, MD, MHA, vice president of Clinical Transformation at Spectrum Health.

Priority Health was among the earlier health systems to require genetic counseling alongside genetic testing. What lessons have you learned from this policy, and has the health system made any adjustments over the years?

Priority Health began requiring genetic counseling before genetic testing to ensure that patients understood what the purpose of the testing was and so they could better understand the results. We also require—although it’s hard to physically require it—that patients have post-testing counseling, as well. The goal is to make sure the patients understand the results of the test and that they can make informed decisions about how to use those results. I think we do a disservice to patients, and in fact we probably cause harm, when patients get a test result they don’t understand, which can induce anxiety and potentially unnecessary subsequent treatment.