During your Total Health virtual consultation, a clinician will provide personalized recommendations based on your lifestyle, medical history, family history, and genetics to help you get and stay healthy. This consult will focus on prevention rather than treatment of any current health problems. To get the most out of your consult, be prepared!
To help you prepare, here's what you can expect, including questions the clinician may ask.
What are your questions?
The clinician may ask you if there's anything you'd like to discuss. Think about how you want to use your time with the clinician, what you want to talk about, and which report results you have questions about. You can see an overview of your reports under "Health & Traits. If you've gotten your blood test results, you can review those under "Lab Results & Vitals." Make a list of all the things you are hoping to cover.
Your health goals
The clinician can help you come up with a plan to work toward any health goals you may have. If you do have goals, come prepared to discuss them. If you don't yet have goals, think about what you might want to achieve or change about your lifestyle habits. Don't worry if you can't think of anything – the clinician can help!
Your family history
Your family health history plays a critical role in helping you and the clinician get a full picture of your health. In addition to your shared genetics, family members often have other factors in common with you, such as where they live and their diet and exercise habits. Knowing about your family members' health conditions and when those conditions started, may give the clinician a better understanding of your genetics, lifestyle, and environment. While the clinician will already have some information about your family health history from the intake form you will fill out before your appointment, other questions may come up. Speak with your family members if you can, and have this information readily available during the consult. The more information the clinician has, the better their recommendations can be. Talking to family members about their health isn't always easy. This article offers tips on how to do it.
Your lifestyle habits
The clinician will ask you questions about your lifestyle, including your diet and exercise habits. Some of this information is included in the intake form, but the clinician may ask follow-up questions. Your non-genetic health information, such as your lifestyle habits, helps contribute to your risk assessment for certain conditions and allows us to provide you with health recommendations.
What works for you
This is your consult. Let the clinician know what's on your mind. Everyone is different and the clinician will strive to tailor the recommendations to you and your lifestyle.
How your results may impact your family
Many genetic conditions are hereditary. The clinician will discuss how your own genetic results may impact the health risks of your biological family members.
Availability after your consult
The consult will be about 30 minutes. If you don't have time to cover everything you'd like to, there will be other opportunities for ongoing discussion, including through the Clinic's asynchronous two-way messaging system.
Lab tests and referrals
As part of the 23andMe+ Total HealthTM membership, a clinician may order a broad range of lab tests. We recommend completing your lab tests before scheduling your consult so that the clinician can provide you with a more comprehensive experience. You also have the option to schedule your consult before completing your labs, once you receive your Exome Sequencing reports. The clinician may also recommend follow-up lab tests, which you can get through your primary care provider or specialist. In addition, the clinician may suggest you see a specialist to ensure you get the best care possible for your needs. These services are not included in your Total Health membership.
After your consult
The clinician will work with you to create a comprehensive plan that focuses on keeping you healthy. We encourage you to share this plan with any of your other healthcare providers.
Clinicians with training in genetics
Consults are with clinicians who have training in genetics and are uniquely qualified to provide you with personalized recommendations focused on prevention that are based on your genetic and non-genetic health information.
Please contact Customer Care with any questions.