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Focused on Better Outcomes for your Patients
With Dynacare as your partner in genetic partner, you can focus on treating your patients, optimizing their care and creating efficiencies for your practice.
To refer a patient, access forms here
With the growth of genetic testing, clinicians are called on to play a greater role in patient education, individual risk assessment, and informed consent. Dynacare genetic counsellors are here to help meet these needs.
Coast-to-coast access to certified genetic counsellors for clients who have questions and concerns about family history or diagnoses, but may not meet the criteria or want to wait for consultations at hospital-based programs.
Telephone or video counselling formats available for patients from the comfort of their home.
Services available in English and French plus live translation services for 200+ languages.
Time from referral receipt to consultation:
With more than 25 years of experience in genetic counselling, Dynacare offers the largest commercial network of genetic counsellors in Canada. We provide a broad range of counselling services including those for prenatal, infertility, hereditary cancer care, neurology and hematology.
1 in 6 couples in Canada struggle with fertility.*
Reproductive genetic counseling can help patients better understand reproductive risks that may be related to a genetic cause.
It can also help patients better understand fertility challenges, infertility or abnormal prenatal genetic screening results.
Approximately 10% of Canadians are affected by neurological disorders.*
Common neurological diseases, including epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, and ALS, affect millions of people worldwide. While environmental factors and lifestyle choices can contribute to the development of these diseases, genetics can also play a significant role. Understanding the role of genetics in neurological diseases can provide insights into their causes, prevention, and treatment.
Approximately 5.2.% of the world’s population carries a significant hemoglobin variant1
Hereditary cancer counseling is commonly indicated for those with a family history of breast, ovarian or colorectal cancer (especially at an early age), or patients who have a family member with a previously identified hereditary cancer mutation.
Approximately 1 in 4 Ontarians may be at risk of having a child with a clinically significant blood disorder.
Dynacare genetic counselling services support community-based primary and specialty care providers who diagnose and manage patients at risk of some of the most common single gene disorders such as hemoglobinopathies and thalassemias. These conditions are more common in certain ethnic groups, such as Asian, Mediterranean, African, Middle Eastern, Caribbean and South/Central American.
63% of adults and 29% of children are prescribed gene-sensitive medications.*
Knowing a patient’s genetics could prompt a medical provider to choose a different drug, change the dosing regimen, or provide closer monitoring to make sure the drug is working and not causing harm. Pharmacogenomic guidelines guide testing and treatment for many areas of medicine including mental health, cardiology, neurology, pain, cancer, infectious diseases.
Determine patient’s eligibility based on referral criteria included on the referral forms.
Complete the appropriate Dynacare Genetic Counselling Referral Form and fax completed form to 450.901.3076.
Handling Referrals in Preferred Languages Please indicate patient’s preferred language. For languages other than English or French, arrangements will be made to collect the family/ medical history verbally with the help of a medical translator rather than via an online questionnaire.
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During the appointment, a genetic counsellor will review the patient’s personal and family history, assess and explain the patient’s personal risks, and recommend genetic testing options.
A written consultation summary is provided to the referring physician and patient including result interpretation and treatment insights.
Genetic Counselling is recommended in the following scenarios:
Dynacare offers genetic counselling to patients who had OptimalRx, OptimalRx Plus or DPYD pharmacogenomic testing where a variant with personal or reproductive risks present, beyond those of drug metabolism.
Forms and other referral documents:
Fertility, Preconception, Prenatal
Fertility Fertility Referral Form Fertility Patient Questionnaire Fertility Clinic Onboarding Information Fertility Clinic Referral Checklist
Preconception Preconception Referral Form Preconception Questionnaire
Prenatal Prenatal Referral Form Prenatal Questionnaire Prenatal Referral Checklist
Oncology
Hereditary Cancer Referral Form Cancer Medical and Family History Questionnaire
Hematology
Hemoglobinpathy Genetic Counselling Referral Form Molecular Diagnostics Genetics Requisition - Hamilton Health Services
Pharmacogenomics
PGx Referral Form DPYD_Fact_Sheet_EN MT-RNR1_m.1555A>G_Fact_Sheet_EN POLG_C._1399G>A_Fact_Sheet_EN POLG_c.2243G>C_Fact_Sheet_EN c.211G>A_UGT1A1_Fact_Sheet_EN Pharmacogenomics Medical and Family History Questionnaire Genetic Counselling Referral Forms
To view health solutions for patients, click here
We work in partnerships with various stakeholders, including medical clinics and hospitals, research and bio-pharma groups, non-profit organizations and employers and insurers.
Medical Clinics and Hospitals
We help healthcare providers and patients incorporate genomics into all aspects of care to improve outcomes through early intervention, prevention and tailored treatment. We can help fill vacant positions, coverage for parental leaves or create flexible solutions for new/expanded services.
Research and Bio‑Pharmaceutical Groups
Our genetic care solutions help accelerate clinical trials and sponsored testing programs nationally. Given the increasing role played by precision genomics and companion diagnostics/screening in therapeutics development, limited access to data and constrained hospital capacity, the Dynacare genetic care team can provide consistent and efficient access and data collection nationally. Our integrated genetic care solutions can be paired with other Dynacare biopharma programs and services.
Employers and Insurers
Our services help maximize the benefits of family history and genetic technologies to improve the quality of life of employees/ plan members to keep them healthier and living longer.
Genetic Testing Labs
Genetic testing is becoming an integral part of both primary and specialty care. We can help labs bridge knowledge gaps for healthcare providers and their patients to ensure responsible and informed access to your testing services.
Our Genetic counselling team includes Medical Directors and Genetic Counselors who are available to assist you with pre- and post-test consultation and interpretation. Whether you need guidance before testing or help understanding results, our experts are there to support you.
Chris Trevors
National Director, Genetic Health Solutions
Yun Zhu
Genetic Counsellor
Carly Pouchet
Ginette Talbot
Jaime Jessen-Brown
Jared Warden-Joseph
Katherine Hodson
Kowuthamie David
Stephanie Hurst
Stephanie Pinho
Dynacare is an official clinical training center for the genetic counselling training program available at the universities of Toronto, British Columbia, Manitoba, and McGill.
Renowned experts on many medical specialties including prenatal-fertility, oncology, pharmacogenomics, and alternative models of care.
All Dynacare Genetic Counsellors have Universities and College appointments in the faculties of nursing, medicine, medical laboratory technology, biology/life sciences and bioethics.
With representation in provincial expert panels, our Genetic Counsellors are authors of scientific publications, textbook chapters, and national care guidelines. To learn more about our Genetic Counselling Team’s scientific work, click here.
What is Genetic Counselling?
Genetic counselling gives you information about how genetic conditions might affect you or your family. As part of this process the genetic counsellor will collect your personal and family health history. The focus is on addressing your questions, concerns around a recent genetic test result, your personal or family history of a condition and help you process the emotional impact this might have. You may also learn about how genetic testing works and decide whether it’s appropriate for you.
What is Genetic Testing?
Genetic testing looks for changes, sometimes called mutations or variants, in your DNA. Genetic testing is useful in many areas of medicine and can change the medical care you or your family member receives. For example, genetic testing can provide a diagnosis for a genetic condition such as familial high cholesterol or information about your risk to develop cancer, or have a bad reaction to a drug. There are many different kinds of genetic tests. Genetic tests are done using a blood, saliva or cheek swab sample and results are usually ready in a few weeks. Because we share DNA with our family members, if you are found to have a genetic change, your family members may have the same change. Genetic Counselling before and after genetic testing can help make sure that you are the right person in your family to get a genetic test, you’re getting the right genetic test, and that you understand your results and it’s potential impact not only medically, but emotionally.
Can I request a pre-test genetic counselling session for my patients?
Absolutely! You can request a pre-test genetic counselling session for your patients. This session allows patients to discuss their concerns, understand the implications of genetic testing, and explore their options. It’s an essential step in ensuring informed decision-making.
What are the fees for Dynacare Genetic Counselling Services?
Typically, there is no charge for patients to receive genetic counselling services, but as with many services in healthcare, coverage varies depending on the province of residence and if the person has provincial and/or private coverage. If you are a medical clinic/hospital, employer or biopharma/research organization and are interested in our services, please contact Christopher Trevors, National Director of Genetic Health Solutions at TrevorsC@dynacare.ca
Why should I refer my patients to Dynacare for their clinical genetics care?
Rapid Access - Through our telehealth model, your patients will have access to our nationwide team of genetic specialists with appointments available in less than one week. Our team of genetic counsellors are accessible for clinicians, via phone or email to help you.
Less stringent referral criteria – We accept referrals for many hereditary conditions commonly diagnosed/ cared for in the community that most hospital-based genetics programs do not as well as cancer referrals regardless of whether the patient meets provincial testing criteria or not.
Detailed, timely consult summaries - after each patient appointment you can expect a detailed consult summary to help guide you in follow-up care.
Expertise – Our team members are leaders in our field. We are an official training site for genetic counselling training programs from University of Toronto, McGill, University of British Columbia and University of Manitoba. In addition, we are expert members on many professional advisory committees related to genomics and collaborate with clinicians across Canada to present/ publish at academic medical conferences and medical journals.
What types of conditions can Dynacare Genetic Counsellors help with?
Hereditary Cancer Screening
Prenatal
Fertility / Reproductive Health
Hemoglobinopathies and Thalassemias
Cardiovascular Conditions
Results of these consultations and testing can help guide personalized screening, prevention, and treatment strategies for the patients as well as their at-risk family members.
As the only non-invasive prenatal test approved by Health Canada, the Harmony test from Dynacare Prenatal Solutions provides accurate screening for Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), Trisomy 18 and 13, and sex chromosome abnormalities.
Formerly known as Genecept Assay®, OptimalRx Plus is particularly useful for mental health treatments. This test helps clinicians determine the most effective and least harmful medication and dosage based on the patient’s genetic profile.
Our comprehensive neurology testing portfolio enables you to improve the health and lives of patients living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.