Locations & Scheduling

Locations & Scheduling

The Center for Personalized Genetic Healthcare (CPGH) is expanding rapidly. Patients can now make appointments to be evaluated at various main campus locations, family health centers and regional hospitals.

Scheduling an appointment

Prior to requesting an appointment, you will need to obtain a referral from your physician. If you are a patient outside the Cleveland Clinic health system, please have your physician complete a referral form and fax to 216.448.9738 (Attention: Referring Physician Hotline) or your physician may refer by phone, by calling 855. REFER (855.733.3712). 

Once an order has been submitted, please call us at 216.636.1768 to make an appointment, or you may schedule an appointment online. 

Main Campus Locations

CA Building - Taussig Cancer Center
10201 Carnegie Ave.
Cleveland, OH 4419

i Building – Cole Eye Institute – Desk i20 (2nd Floor; Main Check-in Desk)
2022 East 105th St.
Cleveland Ohio, 44195

J Building - Desk J1-5 (1 Floor)
9500 Euclid Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44195

R Building - Desk R2 (2nd Floor)
2010 East 90th St.
Cleveland, OH 44195

W.O. Walker Center
10524 Euclid Ave.
Cleveland, OH  44106

Family Health Centers

Beachwood Family Health & Surgery Center
26900 Cedar Rd.
Beachwood, OH 44122

Strongsville Family Health Center
16761 South Park Center
Strongsville, Ohio 44136

Regional Hospitals & Medical Buildings

Akron General Medical Center
1 Akron General Ave., ACC Bldg.
Akron, OH 44307
330.344.2771

Fairview-Moll Cancer Center & Outpatient Medical Building
18200 Lorain Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44111

Fairview Medical Office Building
18099 Lorain Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44111

Hillcrest Hospital
6780 Mayfield Rd.
Mayfield Hts., OH 44124

Westlake Medical Campus
850 Columbia Rd.
Westlake, OH 44145

Telegenetics: Locations are for Cancer Genetic Counseling Only

Cancer Center - Judith and Richard Kinzel Campus – Sandusky
417 Quarry Lakes Dr.
Sandusky, Ohio 44870

Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center, Mansfield
1125 Aspira Court
Mansfield, Ohio 44906

Wooster Family Health & Surgery Center
1740 Cleveland Rd.
Wooster, Ohio 44691

Considering Genetic Testing?

Considering Genetic Testing?

The need for genetic testing is normally determined during a genetics evaluation. The decision to pursue genetic testing is personal, and CPGH’s team of genetic experts can help guide you during the decision-making process.

During a genetics evaluation, we will provide you with accurate, up-to-date information about your specific genetic condition in question, explain the details of genetic testing if appropriate and inform you of your medical management options while providing supportive counseling.

To learn more about CPGH’s genetic counseling process, please review our step–by-step module.

To make an appointment, please call us at 216.636.1768 or 800.998.4785 (toll-free). Or, schedule an appointment online.

Step 1: Assess

During a typical visit, we will start by gathering information relevant to the reason for referral. We may also inquire as to whether a patient understands why their physician referred them to a genetics evaluation.

Family history information is obtained

A detailed family history (called a pedigree) is obtained from a patient. A pedigree is a tool which allows us to visually connect individuals in a family and identify patterns of inheritance. We ask questions about the health of the parents, their children, their brothers, sisters, parents and grandparents with an emphasis on the most important details below:

  • Who in the family has been diagnosed with a genetic or developmental condition?
  • What type of genetic or developmental conditions did each individual have?
  • At what age was each individual diagnosed with a genetic or developmental condition?
  • Did anyone in the family die at a young age resulting from medical problems?

Personal medical information is obtained

A personal medical history is also obtained during the appointment. A personal medical history offers details about a patient’s medical history, surgical history, and surveillance practices (i.e. echocardiograms, mammograms, colonoscopy, etc). Depending on what conditions run in the family, our clinical geneticist may perform a physical exam. It is very much like any other physical, but we tend to do more measurements than other doctors (ex. hand length, arm span, ear length).

Step 2: Consult

Once we have completed a comprehensive risk assessment, we also do a great deal of education and counseling. We explain basic genetics (what are genes, DNA and chromosomes?) as well as how a condition may run in families. During a prenatal and preconception evaluation, we will talk about how various birth defects and genetic conditions are inherited, how they develop in an unborn child, prognosis for the future, and if further testing may be recommended.

We explain the signs and symptoms of the condition as well as any issues involved with daily living and activities. Since genetic conditions can affect an entire family, we also discuss how the condition affects a person’s and the family’s emotions and relationships.

We are trained to assist with communicating this information amongst family members in a way that is sensitive to family dynamics and individual coping styles. Our team of genetic experts collaborates with external genetics professionals so that we can connect at-risk relatives with competent, trained genetic healthcare professionals living in other areas.

Step 3: Test

Genetic testing is discussed

Since everyone is not a candidate for genetic testing, we will assess a patient’s personal and family histories to determine if genetic testing is appropriate.

Genetic testing is ordered, if appropriate

With genetic testing, the goal is to determine if a change in a gene is responsible for causing an individual to have an increased risk for a genetic or developmental condition. In order to be cost-efficient and precise, it is our job to identify the family member who is most likely to show a genetic mutation and to determine the gene or genes with the highest likelihood of showing a change. Genetic testing generally requires 1-2 tubes of blood and informed consent from the person being tested.

A follow-up appointment may be made during which patients can discuss the results with a genetics expert. The appointment may take more or less than an hour. The next steps, which may include additional testing, testing for other family members, or medical management issues, are discussed at that time. Testing can be offered to other members of the family to help clarify individual risks.

Step 4: Manage

Negative test results are interpreted on a case-by-case basis. In some situations, they may be interpreted based on population risk factors, but in other additional recommendations are made due to personal and family history factors. If a test result comes back negative for a genetic mutation, we will formulate an individualized medical management plan based on personal and family history. Whatever the case, we communicate information to the primary care provider and work with them to medically manage the patient.

When a test result shows the presence of a genetic mutation, we assist the patient in creating a medical management plan and relay the information to their referring health care provider. We also provide ongoing care for patients with genetic conditions, coordinate multidisciplinary medical appointments for patients, and help patients access resources related to their condition.

We can also provide trustworthy health information to take home and connect patients with relevant support groups. When a diagnosis cannot be made the chance for inheriting or passing on a condition to children may not be known. We also take this time to address patient and family concerns and answer questions from the family. If a research opportunity is available, we will discuss the risks, benefits and limitations of research study participation.

Since new discoveries in the field of genetics are constantly evolving, we may learn about new genes, diagnostic tests and treatments that could be helpful to you or your child. For this reason, we may recommend that you come back to see us in the future.

Insurance & Billing

Insurance & Billing

Genetic Services

Many insurance plans cover genetic counseling services. Your insurance policy and the reason for your visit will determine whether or not genetic services will be covered.

It is your responsibility, as the patient, to check with your carrier to determine if these services are covered under your plan. Failure to do so may result in a denial or reduction of insurance coverage. To determine coverage, you should contact your insurance company by calling the customer service phone number listed on your insurance card.

If your insurance company asks for a specific ICD-10 (diagnosis), and/or CPT (procedural) code, please contact us and we can provide you with some verification information prior to your upcoming appointment. If this service is not a covered benefit, we will provide a discount when the fee is paid on the day of service. Your insurance card is needed at the time of your appointment.

Genetic Testing

A genetic consultation does not automatically mean that you will have genetic testing. If it is determined that there is testing available and appropriate for your history, this will be reviewed with you during your consultation. The cost of genetic testing varies; our genetic counselors will work with you, your insurance company and the laboratory to determine the cost of testing. The cost of testing will be determined after your initial genetic counseling session. Genetic testing is billed separately form the office visit.