[PR] [ ] Genetic Centers of America Landmark Autism Program

[Guest guest]

ALL,

RE: PRESS RELEASE

Attached is a Genetic Centers of America PRESS

RELEASE covering recent changes in the clinical

practice guidelines for genetic screening of

patients with an autism spectrum diagnosis and a

copy of those guidelines.

RE: THOSE NOT ACCEPTING E-MAIL ATTACHMENTS

For those who do not get SUCH, the follow-

ing is the rough-text of the Press Release's

text:

>

>Genetic Centers of America Launches Landmark,

>National Autism Evaluation and Treatment Program

>

>

>Press Release Contact:

>

>For Immediate Release The Genetic Centers of

> America

>

>June 16, 2008 Mark R. Geier, M.D., Ph.D.,

> FACMG, FACE (tel: )

>

>WASHINGTON, DC – Newly published clinical practice

>guidelines in the journal of Genetics in Medicine,[1]

>the official journal of the American Medical

>Association recognized board of the American

>College of Medical Genetics, recommends the routine

>evaluation and management of all patients diagnosed

>with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by clinical

>geneticists. In response, the Genetic Centers of

>America has launched a landmark, national outreach

>program to provide clinical genetic services to the

>underserved population of persons diagnosed with an

>ASD.

>

>ASDs are a collection of symptoms, characterized by

>impaired socialization and communication in

>association with stereotypic behaviors. The reported

>incidence of ASDs has increased markedly over the

>past decade. In addition, lay and professional groups

>have paid great attention to ASDs. These cicumstances

>have resulted in a marked increase in referrals to

>clinical geneticists for evaluation of persons with

>ASDs.

>

>According to the newly published practice guidelines

>from the American College of Medical Genetics,

>“The primary role of the geneticist in this process

>is to define etiology, if possible, and to provide

>counseling and contribute to case management based

>on the results of such investigations.”

>

>Further, these practice guidelines recommend that

>the clinical geneticist should confirm the diagnosis,

>fully disclose the potential benefits and drawbacks

>of any treatment with the patient/guardians,

>communicate with the medical community serving the

>patient, consider emerging treatments in light of

>evidence based medicine, elucidate the biological

>syndromes related to autism spectrum disorders,

>and plan a course of treatment based upon the

>particularities of a patient and their medical

>history.

>

>In response to these new guidelines, Dr. Mark Geier,

>President of The Genetic Centers of America and

>a founding fellow of the American College of Medical

>Genetics, has stated, “The new guidelines are a

>godsend to parents of children with an ASD diagnosis.

>For the first time, an American Medical Association

>certified board has formally recommended that all

>patients diagnosed with an ASD be seen and fully

>worked-up by a geneticist. These guidelines should

>make it very difficult for any health plan or

>physician to deny children on the spectrum the full

>medical care to which they are entitled.”

>

>The Genetic Centers of America, specializing in the

>management of genetic evaluations for more than 28

>years, presently has one of the nation’s largest

>private clinical genetics practices offering

>management and treatment of patients diagnosed with

>an ASD. Further, the Genetic Centers of America,

>working in collaboration with the non-profit 501©3

>Institute of Chronic Illnesses, has contributed to

>more than 20 recent peer-reviewed studies helping

>to define the etiology and management of ASD in a

>patient population.

>

> ______________________________________________

>

>For more information about how to schedule a genetic

>consultation with the Genetic Centers of America for

>a loved one who has been diagnosed with an ASD,

> please call (301)989-0548.

>

>To financially support research conducted by the

>Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc. on the etiology

>and management of patients diagnosed with an ASD,

>please send your tax-deductible contributions to:

>The Institute of Chronic Illnesses, 14 Redgate Ct.,

>Silver Spring, MD 20905. The Institute of Chronic

>Illnesses, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501©3

>corporation actively engaged in the scientific study

>of the basis of human chronic diseases, with a special

>emphasis on autism spectrum disorders.

>

>----------

>

>[1] Schaefer GB, Mendelsohn NJ, et al. Clinical

> genetics evaluation in identifying the etiology

> of autism spectrum disorders. Genet Med. 2008

> Apr;10(4):301-5.

>

>Attachment Converted:

> " c:\eudora\attach\Clinical genetics evaluation in identifying the etiology

of ASDs11.pdf "

>

Hopefully, most will find this Press Release

to be informative.

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Respectfully,

Dr. King

http://www.dr-king.com

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