Genetic counselors in Colorado Springs are meeting patients at two Mercy Regional Medical Center sites in Durango through audio/video conferencing.
Advances in telemedicine allow patients to schedule appointments at Mercy’s Three Springs or Horse Gulch locations in Durango, but confer with a genetic counselor at the Penrose Cancer Center in Colorado Springs.
Counselors help patients construct a family history to estimate the risk of developing cancer, determine if genetic testing is valuable and learn how to screen for and prevent cancer.
If genetic testing is done, counselors coordinate the procedure.
daler@durangoherald.com