For Primary Care Clinicians

Time 4 Genetics Primary Care Educational Initiative
I am a primary care clinician, and I would like to take part in the Time 4 Genetics Education Initiative to learn more about genetics

Time 4 Genetics is a primary care and pediatric provider genetic education initiative that MSRGN launched in 2021. It is part of the 40 clinic initiative to reach 40 primary care clinics but the end of 2024 in the MSRGN region with genetics education and resources.

Watch the video here to learn more about it or check out the Time for Genetics informational page.

Time 4 Genetics Information Page

Positive Newborn Screen Result
I am a primary care clinician, and received a positive newborn screen in my office. I would like to speak with someone at my state lab regarding the result, who do I call?

Baby’s First Test has a clickable state map where you can search for the conditions screened in your state as well as the contacts for the state newborn screening labs (on the right hand side bar of the state conditions page). In addition if you are located in one of the states in our region you can visit our State Teams page for more state-specific information and resources.

Baby’s First Test
Conditions Screened By State

Communicating a Positive Newborn Screen Result with a Family
I am a primary care clinician, and received a positive newborn screen in my office. I would like some guidance on how to deliver this information to the family of my patient. Where can I turn?

Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children provides a Communication Guide: A communication guide for clinicians and providers to help frame the initial notification and discussion with parents about positive/abnormal/out-of-range newborn screening results.

Utilizing the mnemonic: SCREEN this guide will help you begin the discussion with the family.

 

Red Flags for Genetic Conditions
I am a primary care clinician, what “red flags” should I be on the lookout for in my practice that may suggest that I have a patient with a genetic condition?

The resources below all offer various diagnostic “red flags” that will help you as a primary care clinician determine if your patient may indeed have a genetic condition and require further testing or follow up.

Red Flags for Genetic Disease

Texas Dept. of State Health Services
When Does a Child/Adult need Genetic Services?

The American Academy of Family Physicians
When to Suspect a Genetic Syndrome

Developmental Delay and Genetics I am a pediatrician with a child who has a developmental delay, in my practice. Should I do any genetic testing on them to rule out certain genetic conditions?

MSRGN has developed, as part of this grant cycle, an Approach to Genetic Diagnosis in Developmental Delay as well as other genetic resources which can be found here.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) both provide resources on their websites linked below, to help guide you, as a primary care clinician through the testing and diagnostic work-up for a child with developmental delays.

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Comprehensive Evaluation of the Child With Intellectual Disability or Global Developmental Delays

American Academy of Neurology (AAN)
Genetic and Metabolic Testing for children with Global Development Delay

When to Refer to Genetics
I am a pediatrician and suspect a genetic condition with one of the patients I care for in my practice, where can I learn more about whether I should refer this child/adult to genetics?

Genetics in Primary Care Institute, Genetic Alliance and the Texas Department of State Health Services have a number of resources on their websites linked below which can help you determine when and if you should refer a patient to genetics for further evaluation.

Genetic Alliance book: Understanding Genetics
Indications for a Genetic Referral

Texas Dept. of State Health Services
When Does a Child/Adult need Genetic Services?

 

 

Find a Nearby Genetics Clinic
If I need to refer to genetics, where is the closest genetics clinic to me?

You can use our interactive Find a Clinic Map to locate the closest clinic to you.

Medical Home
I am a pediatrician interested in implementing a medical home for children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) in my practice. Where do I begin?

Our MSRGN region is rich with medical home resources including member, Dr. Chuck Norlin, who created the Medical Home Portal and who is a leader at the national level in medical home implementation. The American Academy of Pediatrics has an implementation guide as well as webinars on their site, National Center for Medical Home Implementation, linked below.

Medical Home Portal
National Center for Medical Home Implementation

Telemedicine and Telegenetics
I am a primary care clinician interested in setting up and utilizing Telemedicine or Telegenetics in my practice. Where do I begin?

Primary care associations offer insights into the terminology and use of telemedicine in the pediatric and adult primary care arena (AAP and ACP papers linked below). Trade organizations like the American Telemedicine Association offer opportunities for education and conferences. The Telehealth Resource Centers are federally funded through the Office of Advancement of Telehealth. These resource centers are focused on assisting and expanding the availability of health care to underserved populations.

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Telemedicine: Pediatric Applications

American College of Physician’s (ACP) Position paper
Policy Recommendations to Guide the Use of Telemedicine in Primary Care Settings
American Telemedicine Association
Telehealth Resource Centers

Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Hypermobile Joints
I am a pediatrician or family physician and have a patient who is presenting with hypermobile joints, which I have learned may be a red flag of a genetic condition. I am looking for some guidance on referral to genetics or other sub-specialists. Can you help me find guidance for this presentation?

MSRGN has developed a Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) Algorithm to offer guidance for primary care physicians and pediatricians

Ehlers Danlos Syndrome Algorithm

 

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