By Bryan Grossman

Thanks to modern technology, genetic counselors in Colorado Springs now can meet with patients in Durango by two-way live audio/video conferencing. Patients in Durango who seek genetic counseling can schedule appointments with Penrose Cancer Center genetic counselors and meet with them virtually. Penrose is in partnership with Mercy Regional Medical Center.

Appointments physically take place at Mercy Family Medicines Three Springs and Horse Gulch locations in Durango, where a medical assistant sits down with the patient in the clinic room, initiates the video counseling session and introduces the patient. In Colorado Springs, a Penrose Cancer Center genetic counselor logs on simultaneously and meets with the patient as if it were an in-person appointment.

Prior to the start of this program, patients at MRMC didnt have access to local genetic counseling services, saidElena Strait, certified genetic counselor. This telemedicine program allows us to meet a need in a way that makes sense for MRMC patients. They are thrilled to receive this service without leaving home, and Durango medical providers appreciate having us as a resource for their patients.

Genetic counseling services include recording a detailed family history and using family history information to estimate the risk of developing cancer, estimate the risk of an inherited cancer, review the pros and cons of genetic testing and help patients decide if testing is appropriate, coordinate genetic testing, consider ways to screen for and prevent cancer based on risks and explore implications with family members

Genetic counseling is a program that Penrose Cancer Centers parent company, Centura Health, is excited to grow, according to a news release sent by Penrose. The goal is ultimately to involve genetic counselors at other hospitals in the network to reach additional outlying communities throughout Colorado and western Kansas. Centura isalso servicing other rural affiliate hospitals with telemedicine services for pulmonology, outpatient gastrointestinal clinic needs and tumor board consultations.

What is Telemedicine?

Formally defined, it is the use of medical information exchanged from one site to another via electronic communications to improve a patients clinical health status. It includes a growing variety of applications and services using two-way video, email, wireless tools and other forms of telecommunications.

Beginning40years ago with demonstrations of hospitals extending care to patients in remote areas, the use of telemedicine has spread rapidly and is now becoming integrated into the ongoing operations of hospitals, specialty departments, home health agencies, private physician offices as well as consumers homes and workplaces.

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Penrose offers genetic counseling via telemedicine