Overnight, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth rapidly transitioned from limited application to widespread implementation. The field of genetic counseling was well positioned to make this transition to virtual care since there is generally less of a need for patients to be seen in-person for physical exams or urgent care. Going forward, virtual visits will presumably become a mainstay in the provision of genetic services and it is anticipated that clinics will adopt “hybrid” models with both in-person and virtual visit options. This commentary highlights the successes and challenges in the rapid implementation of virtual visits, focusing on who has benefited versus who has been challenged or left behind. We also discuss genetic testing considerations, including the additional steps required for patients and clinicians when testing is ordered outside of the clinical setting, which can result in delays or a lack of testing altogether. Future research considerations are presented to address the needs among the most vulnerable and help ensure equitable access and benefit.

中文翻译：

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COVID-19 时代及以后的遗传咨询、虚拟就诊和公平


一夜之间，由于 COVID-19 大流行，远程医疗迅速从有限的应用转变为广泛实施。遗传咨询领域处于有利地位，可以实现向虚拟护理的过渡，因为通常不太需要亲自去看患者进行体检或紧急护理。展望未来，虚拟就诊可能会成为提供遗传服务的支柱，预计诊所将采用“混合”模式，同时提供面对面和虚拟就诊选项。本评论强调了快速实施虚拟访问的成功和挑战，重点关注谁受益，谁受到挑战或落后。我们还讨论了基因检测的注意事项，包括在临床环境之外下令进行检测时患者和临床医生所需的额外步骤，这可能会导致延迟或完全缺乏检测。提出未来的研究考虑因素是为了满足最弱势群体的需求，并帮助确保公平的获取和利益。