Brenda Zuniga, MS, CGC (she/her) ; Mitchell W. Dillon, MS, CGC (he/him)
In 2016, a group of visionaries recognized the need for tools to help genetic counselors (GCs) optimize their day-to-day operations. A few months later, the Access and Service Delivery (ASD) Committee partnered with the Health IT (HIT) SIG to develop a web-based efficiency toolkit for practicing GCs. Fast-forward six years, and the toolkit has gone through multiple iterations, has previously been featured in a 2017 Perspectives article, and has been viewed and downloaded hundreds of times by NSGC members.
Many of you may remember the first toolkit, organized by utility (e.g. clinical, communications, educational) and subspecialty (e.g. cancer, prenatal, pediatrics) including links to the referenced tools, pricing model (many of which are free to use!), and HIPAA compliance certifications. Although the founding members are no longer involved in maintaining the toolkit, their legacy lives on by the continued actualization and utilization of this beloved resource.
To keep up with changing times and the variety of newer GC roles, the last two iterations focused on remote collaboration (e.g. telemedicine, VPN access, web-based communication), variant interpretation, and business management. Additionally, there was a desire to improve its usability and appearance. The newest version is not only a downloadable PDF, but it’s easier to navigate through a clickable table of contents (such as with NCCN Guidelines). The HIT Workgroup felt it was particularly important to move away from a Google document to a PDF as many institutions are now blocking the use of some Google applications.
The vision for this resource is to provide a non-biased comprehensive reference guide including the latest and greatest IT applications for optimizing day-to-day work and supporting GCs in practicing at the top of their scope. With the speed at which technology evolves, this has proven to be a valued and popular resource for genetics professionals in every specialty and industry. However, as it happens in the world of technology, the moment the document is finalized, it becomes outdated. Please use it, share it, and help us improve it!
If you have feedback or want to share a digital tool that you cannot live without, fill out this survey or email the Health IT SIG at NSGCHealthITSIG@gmail.com. You can also visit the HIT SIG website for more information.
Credits/Thanks:
Past leaders: Heather Fecteau, MS, LCGC and Megan Frone, MS, CGC, Caiqian Cropper, MS, CGC, Deanna Erwin, MS, CGC, Katy, Cyndy
Brenda Zuniga, MS, CGC (she/her) is a faculty member and clinical genetic counselor at Vanderbilt University’s Hereditary Cancer Clinic. She has experience as a Genomic Science Liaison for a genetic testing laboratory and key personnel for the Inherited Cancer Registry (ICARE) Initiative and other R01 funded studies. She is the Lead for a Health IT SIG Working Group.
Mitchell W. Dillon, MS, CGC (he/him) has varied expertise in the clinical diagnostic laboratory in both variant interpretation and counseling operations, direct patient care, and a passion for innovative design and technology to advance the efficiency and efficacy of genetic counselors. He is the Co-Chair for the Health IT SIG.