Genetic counseling as part of hospital care

Abstract

In order to determine whether genetic counseling was part of routine inpatient care in a medical school affiliated children's hospital, a retrospective review of selected patient charts was performed. The charts of a sample of 478 patients with any of ten specified types of genetic or congenital disorders were carefully studied to document whether the recording of genetic counseling had been given, 'offered only', or 'considered only'. The disorders included were of four types: chromosomal, single gene, polygenic, and those characterized by multiple congenital anomalies, with or without a syndrome designation. One thousand six hundred and thirty-three (4.2 percent) of the hospital's patients had one of the ten disorders, but in the sample of charts studied genetic counseling was given five times and 'offered only' twice; in no case was it 'considered only'. The authors suggest that under-utilization of genetic knowledge and resources may be remedied in part by incorporation of a formal genetic disposition into hospital discharge protocols.