A multidisciplinary clinic for individualizing management of patients at increased risk for breast and gynecologic cancer

Increasing awareness of the hereditary component of breast and ovarian cancer has driven interest in creating clinics for the patient population at high risk for these cancers. Identifying adequate space and appropriate staff, coordinating multiple providers’ schedules, establishing referral criteria, and addressing billing and reimbursement concerns are just some of the issues that are involved in the creation of a multidisciplinary high risk breast and ovarian cancer program. We provide an overview of the clinic structure at the Magee-Womens Hospital High Risk Breast and Ovarian Cancer Program (HRBOCP), which was created in 2002 due to recognition of a need for a more coordinated model of providing care for women at increased risk for breast and ovarian cancer. The goals of the HRBOCP are to evaluate women at high risk for breast and ovarian cancer and to organize their clinical care in a multidisciplinary setting staffed by experts in the field; to provide updates on new data regarding screening recommendations, prevention options, and risk factors pertinent to an individual’s cancer risk; to provide ongoing support to patients and to coordinate family communication when appropriate; and to facilitate enrollment in appropriate research studies and registries.