The agencies primarily responsible for administering CLIA, HCFA, and CDC should take the lead in implementing this recommendation. The Task Force encourages the development of genetics curricula in medical school and residency training. In addition to these basic curricula, each specialty involved with the care of patients with disorders with significant genetic components should design relevant curricula for continuing education in genetics. Schools of nursing, public health, and social work need to strengthen and expand their training programs in genetics. The newly created National Coalition for Health Professional Education in Genetics should greatly facilitate improving professional education in genetics.
Implementation is at the local level.
If accrediting organizations include a review of the management of selected genetic tests as part of their accreditation, there will be greater stimulus for local organizations to assure quality. The quality of laboratories providing tests for rare diseases must be assured, and a comprehensive system to collect data on rare diseases must be established. The NIH Office of Rare Diseases should play a coordinating role. These and the many other principles and recommendations of the Task Force presented herein will help assure that genetic testing will be provided safely and effectively and that tests for rare diseases will be more widely available but used appropriately. The Task Force concludes that with implementation of these recommendations, genetic testing will continue to flourish.