The ELSI Electronic Case Book Project

This pilot project will develop a World-Wide Web document, the ELSI Electronic Case Book, to introduce primary care physicians and non physician providers to their future roles as facilitators of the genetic counseling process. Its purpose is to improve knowledge of and attitudes toward genetics and genetic counseling through cases based on familial breast cancer susceptibility and sickle cell disease; and to heighten awareness of ELSI and HGP advances, with special attention to ethnocultural barriers to care. The project, which will be piloted at the Family Medicine Residency and Physician Assistant Programs at Baylor and with clinicians on the staff of several community based clinics affiliated with Baylor, will serve (1) as a short-term intervention in medical genetics, genetic counseling, the HGP, and ELSI; (2) as a training session to increase literacy in Internet and Web navigation which will, in general, be useful for professional growth; and (3) as an approach toward centralizing existing resources (text and video) meeting the various educational goals of genetic counseling. The project will develop a collection of many educational modules on medical genetics and genetic counseling which will be made widely accessible through the Internet. An Advisory Committee of nationally-recognized ELSI and content experts will guide the Case Book's goals and content.