Four organizations will build Web tools to enable physicians to collect consistent family histories from women of childbearing age and analyze the information. The goal is to alert physicians to a patient's increased risk for birth defects or pregnancy complications.
The National Coalition for Health Professional Education in Genetics will lead the project. Other participants include the March of Dimes, the Genetic Alliance and Newton Wellesley Hospital in suburban Boston. The project is funded with a $1.2 million grant from the genetic services branch of the federal Health Resources and Services Administration.
Under the project, patients will fill out a standardized family history questionnaire using tablet computers. Software will analyze the information and issue red flags to physicians if warranted. Physicians may be prompted to ask additional questions, based on best practices, or refer a patient for specialist care.
The health history tool will be compatible with the Surgeon General's family health history software, called My Family Health Portrait.
--Joseph Goedert
JUL 14, 2009 4:41pm ET
Web Tool to Aid Family Histories
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