Abstract
The majority of clinical genetic counselors practice in hospitals in metropolitan areas.However, there are systemic and functional barriers for patients to access genetic counseling services in these locations. To expand access and equity for a more diverse patient base, many genetic counselors consult with patients at satellite clinics. These clinics are accessed in a number of ways by clinicians and patients, and are generally smaller and more community- based than larger area hospitals. The goal of this study was to compare and contrast experiences in the practice of genetic counseling in satellite and primary workplaces in terms of patient numbers, available resources and departments, and service delivery. We also aimed to gather additional information regarding challenges and benefits of working in satellite clinics, and differences in identities of patients seen between the two settings. An anonymous online survey was developed and distributed via an email blast to a listserv hosted by the National Society of Genetic Counselors to recruit cancer genetic counselors who see patients at satellite clinics in addition to their main place of work in the United States of America.
A total of 24 responses were completed and evaluated using frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, and two-sample t-tests. Analysis revealed that most respondents (84.9%) do not see patients at satellite clinics in the same city as their primary workplace, and the majority (90.9%) agreed that those clinics were established for patients’ convenience. However, 72.7% agreed that the satellite clinics served a different patient demographic than their primary workplace. Additionally, the mean number of resources and departments available at satellite clinics was fewer than those available at respondents’ primary places of work. Data from this study suggest that there is no standardized approach to cancer genetic counseling at satellite clinics, and that it most likely differs among health systems. While they may be more convenient for the average patient, satellite clinics are overall less-resourced than the larger institutions with which they are associated. This is a rich area yet to be explored by genetic counseling research, and more studies are needed to reveal details about genetic counseling provided in satellite clinics.