Carisa Sanborn and Nikita Meshwani
PATIENTS People who want to learn about their birth defects Women who want to know if their children will have medical issues Chromosomal abnormalities Risks for the future children of parents who already have a child with a genetic disorder
SERVICES PROVIDED Interpretation of medical histories Education about inheritance, testing, management, prevention, resources and research. Counselors that inform about choices and risks
COST Newborn testing varies by state between $15-$60 Varies by the intensity of the test ($100- $2000) Breast Cancer Tests: $300-$3,000
EMPLOYEES Genetic counselors study biology, genetics, nursing, psychology, public health, and social work. They interpret information about disorders and analyze patterns They also provide supportive counseling to families and provide choices.
MORE FACTS Look at family trees to find patterns Don’t write prescriptions Follow-up sessions for long-term patients Associated with hospital clinics and research groups Skills for finding down syndrome are strong