Everyone’s history and situation are different that “one size fits all” does not work in genetics. Therefore, it is important to understand one’s options based on your personal and family history in order to make informed decision.
Everyone’s history and situation are different that “one size fits all” does not work in genetics. Therefore, it is important to understand one’s options based on your personal and family history in orderto make informed decision.
Genetic counselors are healthcare professionals but not a doctor. Genetic counselors can help individuals and their families to understand about genetic conditions, promote informed decision making process, assist finding the most appropriate genetic testing, and help understand the results.
Genetic counselors are healthcare professionals but not a doctor. Genetic counselors can help individuals and their families to understand about genetic conditions, promote informed decision making process, assist finding the most appropriate genetic testing,and help understand the results.
The recent explosion in genetic testing has allowed people to gain access to genetic tests even without the involvement of healthcare professionals. Often, people do not fully understand the benefits and limitations of these tests and misunderstand the results. Therefore, meeting with a genetic counselor is an especially important step as it allows individuals to make informed decisions and receive the support they need in their diagnosis or information gathering journey.
The recent explosion in genetic testing has allowed people to gain access to genetic tests even without the involvement of healthcare professionals. Often, people do not fully understand the benefits and limitations of these tests and misunderstand the results. Therefore, meeting with a genetic counselor is an especially important step as it allows individuals to make informed decisions and receive the support they need in their diagnosis or information gathering journey.
Robert Resta, et al. “A New Definition of Genetic Counseling: National Society of Genetic Counselors’ Task Force Report.” Journal of Genetic Counseling, vol. 15, no. 2, 2006, pp. 77–83., doi:10.1007/s10897-005-9014-3).
Genetic counseling started in the 1970s in the United States. Most of genetic counselors at the beginning worked in a hospital or clinical setting to counsel patients. However, recent changes in the market allowed genetic counselors to utilize their skill sets in non-clinical settings as well. Approximately 10 years ago, genetic counselors were mainly involved in direct patient care; however, the dynamics have changed since (2021 statistics):
Genetic counseling started in the 1970s in the United States. Most of genetic counselors at the beginning worked in a hospital or clinical setting to counsel patients. However, recent changes in the market allowed genetic counselors to utilize their skil l sets in non-clinical settings as well. Approximately 10 years ago, genetic counselors were mainly involved in direct patient care; however, the dynamics have changed since (2021 statistics):
These are recent changes in the genetic counseling field showing how the market has changed over the years.
These are recent changes in the genetic counseling field showing how the market has changed over the years.
Pre-pregnancy genetic counseling
Genetic counseling during pregnancy
Abnormal findings in ultrasound
Prenatal testing options based on family history
General pediatrics/adult genetics
(developmental delay, autism, etc)
Chromosomal abnormalities
(Down synrome, deletion/
duplications of chromosomes)
Neurology
Cardiology
Endocrinology
Ophthalmology
ENT
Urology
Allergy/immunolog
Specialty clinics
(cleft clinic, 22q11.2 deletion clinic,
dementia clinic, etc)
Genetic counseling based on family history
Breast cancer genetic counseling
Colon cancer genetic counseling
Other hereditary cancers genetic counseling
Genetic counseling based on family history
Sales/marketing
Genetic test design and curating
Report writing and reviewing
Variant interpretations
Sales/marketing
Pharmacogenetics related tasks and research
Teaching
Supervising
Genetic counseling related law making
Public health research
Genetic counseling coverage review
Work with companies above, providing consultation
Privacy Policy for GeneticsMode LLC
If you have any questions or concerns regarding our Privacy Policy, please contact us.
GeneticsMode, LLC (Attn: Arang Kim)
Website: http://www.geneticsmode.com
Email: geneticsmode@geneticsmode.com
Phone: +1 (201) 443-5685
As a provider of internet-based healthcare services, GeneticsMode (the “Company”) takes privacy issue
very seriously. The Privacy Policy (the “Policy”) explains the treatment of the information that is
provided or collected on the websites on which this Policy is posted. By using our website, users consent
to the data practices described in this statement.
Through this Policy, the Company regards the personal information of users as important and informs
them of the purpose and method of the Company’s use of personal information provided by the users
and the measures taken by the Company for protection of those personal information.
This Policy will be effective on the 1st day of September 2021 and, in case of modification thereof, the
Company will make public notice on the Company’s website or individual notice through mail, fax or
email.
GeneticsMode is in full compliance with the privacy requirements under the Health Insurance Portability
and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
1.Information to be collected and method of collection
1) Personal information items to be collected:
i.Requesting services: Name, phone number, email address, home/company address,
occupation, date of birth, gender, personal medical history including past and current
medical history, family history, genetic test results, and social history
ii.Requesting services: For minors, information of legal representatives
iii.Online payment service (The Company uses Stripe to send invoices to our customers.):
Name, phone number, email address, billing address, payment information including
account number and card number
2) Method of collection: Online forms, telephone calling, emailing
2. Use of collected information
The company uses the collected information of users for the following purposes:
1) Respond via email or phone to client’s inquiries that was submitted by the client
2) Schedule an appointment to render services
3) Provide notice of functionality of the Company sites or dapplications or matters on policy
change
4) For statistical analysis of clients’ service usage in order to provide services and place
advertisements
5) To comply with applicable laws or legal obligations
6) When the Company carries out services such as bill payment (Stripe for invoice service)
We do not use clients’ information for marketing purposes and do not sell or share the
information to third parties without the clients’ explicit consent.
3. Security
The Company regards the security of personal information as very important. All our clients’
information is stored within HIPAA-compliant systems. Also, the Company employs the
following security measures to protect users’ personal information from any unauthorized
access, release, use or modification.
1) Establish and manage appropriate physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards to protect
clients’ personal identifiable information and protected health information
2) Restrict access to clients’ personal identifiable information to members who do not need
access in order to provide services
If the Company identifies a data breach, we will notify our customers promptly and take
appropriate measures. Additional steps will be taken in compliance with HIPAA if there is a
breach of patient data.
4. Clients’ Right
1) The clients or their legal representatives, as main agents of the information, may exercise
the following options regarding the collection, use and sharing of personal information by
the Company:
i.Provide right personal information
ii.Provide accurate personal and family health history information
iii.Modify or delete their personal information
iv.Revision of their health information if there is incorrect or incomplete information
In order to exercise the above options, the client may contact the Company via phone or
email. The Company will take reasonable and necessary measures.
2) The Company provides a summary of the client’s health information once a genetic
counseling session is completed. These consultation notes will be emailed securely to the
client via PDF attachment following the appointment. An additional copy can be provided at
no additional cost. All subsequent copies can be provided for a fee. A paper copy can also be
provided upon request for a fee.
3) If clients feel the Company violated their rights, they can submit a complaint by contacting
us below:
GeneticsMode, LLC (Attn: Arang Kim)
Email: geneticsmode@geneticsmode.com
Phone: +1 (201) 443-5685
Clients may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services Office for Civil Rights by mail, fax, email, or via the OCR Complaint Portal. For
more information, please refer to this website:
https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/filing-a-complaint/complaint-process/index.html.
The Companyd will not retaliate against our clients for filing a complaint.
5. Sharing collected information
Except for the following cases, the Company will not share personal information with a third
party:
1) If the client specifically provides written consent to share his or her personal information on
sites such as social networking sites or gives permission for sharing his or her personal
information to other clients for networking
2) If the information was legally required to be disclosed or if required to be disclosed to
investigative agencies for detecting crimes in accordance with the procedure and method as
prescribed in relevant laws and regulations
3) We may use or share non-personal identifiable information for health research
6. Protecting children’s privacy
Children under the age of 13 years should not use or access the Company’s services. A parent or
legal guardian/representative must be present if the service should be rendered for minors. The
Company have the right to refuse to provide our service directly to individuals under the age of
18.
7. Cookies
The Company uses “cookies” in order to provide a personalized user experience, improve the
site, and analyze site traffic to improve services. Cookies are very small text files stored on the
users’ computer which providers the Company with information on how the site is used. Users
have the option to opt-out of or remove cookies. Please note that opting out of cookies may
limit access to certain features on the site.
Terms of Service for GeneticsMode LLC
Please read the following terms and conditions carefully.
GeneticsMode, LLC (“the Company”) provides genetic counseling and genetic counseling consultation
services. The website has been designed to provide general information about the service provided by
the Company. By using the website and using counseling or consulting services of the Company, you are
agreeing to be bound by the following Terms of Service, including our Privacy Policy which can be found
at the bottom of the website.
1. Credentials
The Company’s genetic counselors are certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling
(ABGC) and follows a scope of practice defined by the National Society of Genetic Counselors
(NSGC). The Company’s service cannot replace any advice and/or recommendations provided by
your physician(s) and other healthcare providers. Our genetic counseling services are not
intended for medical diagnosis or treatment.
2. Proprietary Rights
All the materials listed on the website and provided while rendering the service should not be
reproduced without authorization by the Company. The Company reserves all rights to the
relevant intellectual property.
3. Payment for Services
Once the service request form has been submitted by a client, the client will be contacted via
email to schedule an appointment. In order to reserve an appointment, the client must pay for
the service in advance.
1) Cancellation fee:
Any appointments cancelled less than 24 hours in advance will be charged a $50
cancellation fee.
2) Rescheduling request:
Rescheduling requests should be made at least 24 hours prior to the appointment. A $50
cancellation fee will be charged if an appointment occurring in less than 24 hours is
rescheduled.
3) No show policy:
If an appointment is not attended, the full fee will be charged.
4) Follow up appointments:
If a follow up appointment is necessary due to the customer’s incomplete or inaccurate
information, a fee will be charged for another session.
5) Insurance:
The Company does not accept insurance. If the client wants to seek reimbursement through
their insurance, the Company may provide a copy of the receipt and other documents (if
any). The Company cannot advise on coverage or insurance related questions.
6) Genetic counseling consultation:
The Company and the client company will make a payment contract based on the level,
amount, and period of the project. Additional fees may apply for additional services not
listed in the contract.
4. Storing records
All the records including Protected Health Information (PHI) and Personal Identifiable
Information (PII) are stored in cloud-based systems with Google (G suite) with whom the
Company has a HIPAA Business Associate Agreement (BAA). These BAAs legally obligate third-
party companies to take measures to protect information from unauthorized use or disclosure.
5. Communications
1) Tele-genetic counseling service:
The Company uses Google Meet for the tele-genetic counseling services as part of its BAA
with Google (G suite).
2) Email:
The Company uses @geneticsmode.com which is a part of the BAA with Google (G suite).
When the Company emails clients, confidential mode is utilized to help protect sensitive
information from unauthorized access. It allows for setting an expiration date and requiring
a passcode to open emails. Recipients will not have the option to forward, copy, print, or
download the message. We encourage our clients to turn on confidential mode when they
communicate with us. It is not the Company’s responsibility for the security of any
information clients send through unencrypted email.
3) Phone:
The Company uses a cellphone (carrier is T-mobile) that is password protected. Voicemails
are regularly checked and deleted after being heard. Voicemails are also password
protected. No PHI should be left in voicemails as the Company does not hold any
responsibility for the privacy and security of such information that are left on voicemails.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding our Terms of Services, please contact us.
GeneticsMode, LLC (Attn: Arang Kim)
Website: http://www.geneticsmode.com
Email: geneticsmode@geneticsmode.com
Phone: +1 (201) 443-5685
Effective as of September 1st, 2021