All posts authored by Elissa Levin, M.S., CGC
October 16, 2008
Posted 01:15 PM PDT
If you’ve received your Navigenics genetic test results, it may be time for “the talk.”
Time to have a candid conversation with your physician about your DNA and what you can do to improve the future direction of your health.
This summer, I blogged about some of the barriers patients might face in sitting down with a physician to go over the results. Fear of discrimination and too-short appointments are foremost on some people’s list.
Yet your doctor can be your greatest ally in your quest to make informed decisions about your health.
And, as one of our satisfied customers relates, having that conversation can be one of the most important steps you can take along the path toward optimal wellness.
In Patrick’s case, it meant early detection and early treatment of a health condition that might otherwise have gone undetected for some time.
Read More
Categories: For physicians, Macular degeneration, Working with your doctor
August 14, 2008
Posted 09:55 AM PDT
Sometimes, knowing what your DNA says about your health isn’t enough – you’d like your doctor to be in the loop as well. But in the busy world of modern medicine, that kind of information sharing may not be as easy as it sounds.
Some physicians, for example, have so many medical advances to keep track of that they may not be accustomed to interpreting new types of genetic results. You and your doctor also usually don’t have as much time to talk as either of you would like. Did you know that the average medical appointment is only about seven minutes these days? That leaves little time to fit in a conversation about personal genetics results. And many people have concerns about whether they want their genetic information entered into their formal medical records.
f you’d like to talk with your physician about your genetic information, here are a few suggestions to help make that conversation more productive:
Read More
Categories: For physicians, Genetic counseling, Genetic privacy, Working with your doctor
July 21, 2008
Posted 10:10 AM PDT
When people interested in Navigenics hear that genetic counseling is a core part of our service, they usually have two things to say. The first is “Great!” The second is “What do you do, exactly?”
Here is a look at who we are, and how we can help you make the most of your genetic insights.
Genetic Counselors are highly trained health professionals with specific expertise in medical genetics and counseling, but many people have never had access to us. That separation reflects the traditional role of genetic information in health care. For a long time, genetics focused mostly on either rare diseases or pregnancy. As a result, you might have been referred to a Genetic Counselor only if a rare condition ran in your family, or if you were considering a genetic test as part of having a baby.
Read More
Categories: About Navigenics, Genetic counseling