Spotlight Program: North Memorial Heart and Vascular Institute
North Memorial Heart and Vascular Institute Cardiovascular Genetic Counseling
North Memorial Heart and Vascular Institute (HVI) offers cardiovascular genetic counseling to help patients understand and adapt to the medical, psychological and familial implications of genetic contributions to inherited heart diseases.
HVI patients with a personal or family history of certain heart conditions can meet with a genetic counselor to discuss the genetic testing available and how it can help them and their family. The genetic counselor will:
- Gather extensive family history information and complete a risk assessment
- Share comprehensive knowledge of the benefits and limitations to genetic testing
- Provide interpretation of genetic tests and disclosure of results
- Facilitate the identification, referral, and testing of at-risk family members
- Provide psychosocial counseling surrounding issues related to heritable cardiovascular diseases, such as emotional adjustment and decisions about reproductive options and family planning
Patients with a family history of one of the conditions below should be considered for genetic testing:
- Long QT syndrome
- Brugada syndrome
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Dilated Cardiomyopathy
- Left Ventricular Non-Compaction
- Familial Hypercholesterolemia
- Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia (CPVT)
- Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC)
- Familial Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection
To refer a patient for cardiovascular genetic testing, you can place an order in EPIC by using “HVI Genetic Consultation” and an HVI scheduler will call the patient to schedule the appointment.