Clinical genetic services are those diagnostic, counseling, and testing services that help people of all ages learn about birth defects, inherited disorders, or other genetically related conditions. People who use these services are usually concerned that such problems might happen for the first time in a family, or that they might recur if they have already occurred somewhere in the family history. With ongoing discoveries about the genetic basis of common diseases such as cancer, genetics consultation is being requested by increasing numbers of people.
Genetic evaluation and counseling is available at Theda Clark and offers people the opportunity to become more informed about:
- the medical facts about a particular condition.
- whether or not heredity is a relevant concern and the extent of risk that exists for particular family members.
- options for testing, treatment, care, or prevention.
- the importance of one's own values and beliefs in decision- making related to testing for or treating certain conditions.
Pediatric/Adult Diagnostics
Dr. David Wargowski, medical geneticist from the Wisconsin Clinical Genetics at Madison, makes monthly visits to Theda Clark to evaluate or consult with individuals and families with a variety of genetically related problems. Referrals to him are prompted by concerns about unusual patterns of growth and development, chromosomal abnormalities, single or multiple birth defects, or suspicions about other genetic diseases or syndromes within a family.
Prenatal Diagnosis
Prenatal genetic diagnosis is also available with the special skills of Dr. Jurgen Herrmann, a medical geneticist who also travels monthly to Theda Clark. Ultrasonic examination of the fetus, and, in selected situations, either chorionic villi sampling or amniocentesis, allows for the identification of many genetic conditions before birth. His services are requested during pregnancy when:
- a previous child or some other family member has had a birth defect, chromosome abnormality, or known genetic disease.
- maternal age or abnormal prenatal screening tests have suggested a higher than usual risk for specific fetal abnormalities.
- the pregnancy has been exposed to a potentially harmful substance.
- routine ultrasound has identified an abnormality of fetal growth or development.
Genetic Counseling
Two Board Certified Genetic Counselors are available in the ThedaCare system to provide independent genetic consultation. Their goal is to provide clear and clinically relevant information about genetic risk factors in a supportive and educational way.
Genetic Counselors see patients to address the following:
1) family history of a genetic condition or birth defects and recurrence risk assessment
2) cancer risk assessment including risk for a second primary cancer or risk to develop cancer based on personal and/or family history risk factors
3) implications of prenatal screening results (including ultrasound) during a pregnancy
4) the benefits, risks and limitations of diagnostic testing options for genetic conditions (prenatal, pediatric or adult)
5) understanding and coping with prenatally diagnosed abnormalities or the birth of a child with abnormalities
Bobbi McGivern is at AMC and provides cancer risk assessment services and Karen Metzler is based out of ThedaClark and provides genetic counseling for all non cancer related conditions. Bobbi can be reached at 920-735-7208 and Karen can be reached at 920-729-2096.