Definitions

As used in these rules, the following terms and acronyms shall have the following meanings ascribed to them: (1) ABGC – The American Board of Genetic Counseling. (2) ABMG – The American Board of Medical Genetics. (3) Board – The Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners. (4) Board’s administrative office - The office of the administrator assigned to the Board located at 665 Mainstream Drive, Nashville, TN 37243. (5) Division – The Division of Health Related Boards, Tennessee Department of Health, from which the Board receives administrative support. (6) Genetic counselor – A person licensed to engage in the practice of genetic counseling. (7) Practice of genetic counseling – The process of helping people understand and adapt to the medical, psychological and familial implications of genetic contributions to disease performed pursuant to a referral. This process integrates the following: (a) Interpretation of family and medical histories to assess the chance of disease occurrence or recurrence; (b) Education about inheritance, testing, management, prevention, resources and research; and (c) Counseling to promote informed choices and adaptation to the risk or condition. (8) Referral – A written or telecommunicated authorization for genetic counseling services from a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches or an advanced practice nurse or physician assistant who has an agreement and signed protocols with a supervising physician that authorizes referrals to a genetic counselor. GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING CHAPTER 0880-13 THE PRACTICE OF GENETIC COUNSELORS (9) Supervision – The ongoing, direct clinical review, for the purposes of training or teaching, by an approved supervisor who monitors the performance or a person’s supervised interaction with a client and provides regular documented face-to-face consultation, guidance, and instructions with respect to the clinical skills and competencies of the person supervised. Supervision may include, without being limited to, the review of case presentations, audio tapes, video tapes, and direct observation.