Integrating Genetics Into Primary Care: Family History Is Key

From Topics in Advanced Practice Nursing eJournal Our healthcare system is shifting from one that reacts to illness to one that prevents illness and discards the "one size fits all" approach. With advances in our understanding of the genetic basis for disease comes public awareness and interest in what these advances have to offer. Public awareness of genetic and genomic information brings the necessity to effectively and responsibly integrate genetics into primary care. Family members share not only genes; but may also share environments, lifestyles, and habits and consequently, they may share risk for disease. Geneticists have long recognized that the gateway to discovering genetic inheritance and disease susceptibility is a thorough recording of family medical history.[3] This article will offer measures to help primary care providers effectively integrate genetics into their practices: eliciting a family history, identifying genetic red flags, and stratifying personal risk based on risk factors.