NSGC CEU Credits Available for New Lettercase Online Training Module

Online Modules for Medical Professionals Who May Deliver a Prenatal or Postnatal Diagnosis

We've been staying busy over the past 6 months creating online learning content for medical professionals and students on our new learning management system platform at the University of Kentucky's Human Development Institute. We released three free online modules, including an update to our Brighter Tomorrows modules.

Brighter Tomorrows was recently highlighted in a study published in Patient Education and Counseling where the researchers concluded "that knowledge and perceived comfort levels of first-year medical students in giving a postnatal diagnosis of Down syndrome were significantly increased following use of an educational tool." 

The modules available include:

• PHT 201: Improving the Prenatal Diagnosis Experience and Long-Term Patient Outcomes with Accurate, Up-to-Date, and Balanced Information about Genetic Conditions
• PHT 204: Brighter Tomorrows: Best Practices for Communicating a Prenatal Diagnosis of Down Syndrome
• PHT 205: Brighter Tomorrows: Best Practices for Communicating a Postnatal Diagnosis

NSGC CEU Credit Approved for PHT 206: Understanding Disability and Best Practices for Communicating a Diagnosis

We also received feedback that practicing genetic counselors would appreciate a course worth CEU credit hours. Therefore, we created a super course that combined the content from all the free modules, and the course has recently been approved for 0.5 CEUs! We are hoping this is a valuable resource for clinicians who want to strengthen their understanding of disability issues, the history of disability rights, and best practices for communicating about a prenatal or postnatal diagnosis.

The National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) has authorized Lettercase National Center for Prenatal and Postnatal Resources  to offer up to 0.5 CEUs or 5 Category 1 contact hours for the activity "Understanding Disability and Best Practices for Communicating a Diagnosis." The American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) will accept CEUs earned at this program for the purposes of genetic counselor certification and recertification. These objectives map to the Accreditation Council of Genetic Counseling (ACGC) Practiced Based Competencies 2a, 11a &b, 13a) (2019), as well as the NSGC Code of Ethics (I1, II4&5, IV4) (2017).

This online module can be completed at your own pace and includes the following features:

• online lessons
• instructional videos
• video podcasts 
• reflection activities
• links to additional helpful resources

While free versions of the modules are available, those who want CEU credit will need to register for PHT 206: Understanding Disability and Best Practices for Communicating a Diagnosis, and there is a $50 administrative processing fee for those who want CEU credit for the content.

Course Developers:

• Dr. Harold Kleinert, EdD
• Stephanie Meredith, MA
• Supervisor: Angela Trepanier, MS, CGC

Special thanks to our reviewers: Angela Trepanier, MS, CGC, at Wayne State University; Dr. Brian Skotko, MD, MPP, from the Massachusetts General Hospital Down syndrome Program; Blair Stevens, MS, CGC, from the University of Texas Houston; Cori Feist, MS, CGC, from Oregon Health & Science University; Kim Baich from the Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio; and Stephanie Thompson from the National Down Syndrome Adoption Network.

You can also access our free resources for expectant parents on our Lettercase resources webpage. Get the materials online, in print, or in our app for tablets.