Characterizing healthcare provider experiences delivering genomic testing in a Federally Qualified Health Center

To maximize the potential benefits of genomic medicine for all, it is crucial to research and support the delivery of genomic medicine in under-researched healthcare settings. This project investigated experiences of healthcare providers caring for low-resourced patients in a Federally Qualified Health Center in Phoenix, Arizona (FQHC) using a mixed-methods, cross-sectional case study. Interviews were conducted with 14 healthcare providers working in a FQHC, involved with delivering genomic testing (specifically, polygenic risk scores PRS and monogenic testing) to patients enrolled in the electronic Medical Records and Genomics (eMERGE) network, specifically the eMERGE IV study. Providers expressed a general confidence in genomic testing in practice. Quantitatively, most providers expressed confidence in communicating genomic test results to patients. However, qualitative findings emphasize time constraints, insufficient training, lack of human resources, and concerns for follow-up care and financial barriers, which are pronounced in FQHC settings. The potential of genomic testing to improve patient outcomes is strong, but system-level support for providers is necessary to strive towards sustainable and equitable implementation of genomic medicine, particularly in FQHC and other under-resourced primary care settings. Disparities remain in accesibiity to genetic testing among underrepresented racial and ethnic minority groups within under-resources healthcare setting. To better understand the potential benefits and impact genomic testing can have in diverse primary care settings, we interviewed healthcare providers about their experience caring for Latino patients who previously received genomic testing in a Federally Qualified Health Center, in Phoenix, Arizona. We found that providers feel a general sense of confidence when communicating with patients about genomic medicine. Providers mentioned the presence of time, training, and resource constrains witin their clinical setting that impacted their experience with delivering genomic testing. This highlights the need for more sustainable and equitable implementation of genomic testing within under-resourced healthcare settings serving underrepresented racial and ethinic minority populations. Gur-Arie et al., investigate the experiences of healthcare providers delivering genomic testing to primarily Latino patients in a Federally Qualified Health Center in Phoenix, Arizona (FQHC). Findings indicated that healthcare providers felt a general sense of confidence when delivering genomic testing to patients despite constraints related to time, training, and resources.