PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - R. B. Lowry
AU  - P. Bowen
TI  - The Alberta Hereditary Diseases Program: a regional model for delivery of genetic services
DP  - 1990 Feb 01
TA  - Canadian Medical Association Journal
PG  - 228--232
VI  - 142
IP  - 3
4099  - http://www.cmaj.ca/content/142/3/228.short
4100  - http://www.cmaj.ca/content/142/3/228.full
SO  - CMAJ1990 Feb 01; 142
AB  - Genetic counselling and related services are generally provided at major university medical centres because they are very specialized. The need for rurally based genetic services prompted the inclusion of an outreached program in the Alberta Hereditary Diseases Program (AHDP), which was established in 1979; the AHDP was designed to provide services to the entire province through two regional centres and seven outreach clinics. There is a community health nurse in almost every health unit whose duties are either totally or partially devoted to the AHDP; thus, genetic help and information are as close as a rural health unit. The AHDP is designed to provide complete clinical (diagnostic, counselling and some management) services and laboratory (cytogenetic, biochemical and molecular) services for genetic disorders. In addition, the program emphasizes education and publishes a quarterly bulletin, which is sent free of charge to all physicians, hospitals, public health units, social service units, major radio and television stations, newspapers and public libraries and to selected individuals and groups in Alberta.