The composition and capacity of the clinical genetics workforce in high-income countries: a scoping review

Abstract

As genetics becomes increasingly integrated into all areas of healthcare and the use of complex genetic tests continues to grow, the clinical geneticsworkforce will likely face greatly increased demand for its services. To informstrategic planning by health-care systems to prepare to meet this future demand, weperformed a scoping review of the genetics workforce in high-income countries,summarizing all available evidence on its composition and capacity published between2010 and 2019. Five databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PAIS, CINAHL, and Web of Science)and gray literature sources were searched, resulting in 162 unique studies beingincluded in the review. The evidence presented includes the composition and size ofthe workforce, the scope of practice for genetics and nongenetics specialists, thetime required to perform genetics-related tasks, case loads of genetics providers,and opportunities to increase efficiency and capacity. Our results indicate thatthere is currently a shortage of genetics providers and that there is a lack ofconsensus about the appropriate boundaries between the scopes of practice forgenetics and nongenetics providers. Moreover, the results point to strategies thatmay be used to increase productivity and efficiency, including alternative servicedelivery models, streamlining processes, and the automation of tasks.