Faculty
Background
Closing the Genetic/Genomics Translation to Practice Gap:
Health care is benefiting from the unprecedented and ongoing work elucidating the genetic/genomic basis of health, illness, disease risk, and treatment response. This progress is applicable to the entire spectrum of health care and, as such, to all healthcare providers regardless of discipline. Preparing healthcare providers to deliver genetically and genomically competent health care is vitally important to the successful translation of genetic and genomic discoveries into practice and quality health care outcomes.
The face of health care is rapidly changing due in large part to the improved understanding of the contribution of genetics and genomics to health and illness. The elucidation of the inherited and acquired genetic changes associated with disease have the potential to: improve the identification of at risk individuals; begin to establish risk reducing interventions; enhance existing screening; improve prognostic and therapeutic decision-making; develop novel, individualized therapy; and influence treatment dosing and selection based on the genetic variation of drug metabolism. With the development of practice guidelines, commercially available tests, insurance coverage, and legislative protection from discrimination, genetic tests are moving beyond specialty genetic services into the mainstream healthcare arena at an unprecedented rate. Further challenging the healthcare community is the fact that direct to consumer marketing of some genetic tests are already underway. These discoveries have the potential to decrease the disease burden and morbidity of the public’s health, and the education of all healthcare providers represents the first step in realizing that goal.
Competencies for All Healthcare Professionals
The National Coalition for Health Professional Education in Genetics (NCHPEG) consists of more than 50 health professional, consumer and volunteer organizations. The third edition of the NCHPEG Competencies “Core Competencies in Genetics for Health Professionals” was published in 2007. These competencies apply to all healthcare providers regardless of academic level of training, role, clinical specialty or scope of practice. Some health professions have developed discipline specific competencies. The third edition of the NCHPEG Competencies “Core Competencies in Genetics for Health Professionals” was published in 2007.
Discipline Specific Competencies
In 2004 the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) joined together to establish the Genetic/Genomic Nursing Competency Initiative (GGNCI). The work began with establishing the Essentials of Genetic and Genomic Nursing: Competencies, Curricula Guidelines, and Outcome Indicators, 2nd Edition (Essential Competencies) a competency and curriculum guide for academics, continuing education and specialty certification. The competencies, achieved through consensus of the nursing community, establish the minimum genetic and genomic competency required of every nurse regardless of academic preparation, role, practice environment or clinical specialty. The competencies build on existing standards of nursing practice. Fifty organizations, including the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and the National League for Nursing (NLN), have endorsed the competencies. To download a copy of the Competencies and Outcome Indicators, go to: http://www.genome.gov/Pages/Careers/HealthProfessionalEducation/geneticscompetency.pdf
Genetics/genomics is now an expected component of Baccalaureate and Master’s nursing education. Beginning in 2010, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accreditation reviews will assess academic programs for inclusion of specific genetic/genomic information. To determine genetic/genomic content required for any degree visit: http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Education/essentials.htm
Genetic/Genomic Physician Assistant Competencies
In 2007, a panel of healthcare providers and Physician Assistant (PA) leaders from clinical, research, and academic settings, met to establish the minimum basis by which to prepare the PA workforce to deliver competent genetic/genomic healthcare. These competencies, recently expanded to include Performance Indicators, apply to all PAs regardless of clinical role or specialty. To download a copy of the PA Competencies, go to: http://www.paeaonline.org/index.php?ht=action/GetDocumentAction/i/25416