The National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) recommends that patients and their healthcare practitioners jointly collect family health history (FHH) to facilitate comprehensive risk assessment for routine and specialty care.

In addition, NSGC supports standards to integrate appropriate FHH information into the patient’s electronic health record (EHR), including information about first-, second-, and third-degree relatives. EHRs must have the capacity to adapt to ongoing genetic and technological advancements as they relate to collecting FHH. Relatives' genetic test results and other pertinent medical records should be reviewed and documented in accordance with all relevant federal, state, and local privacy laws and guidelines.

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Revised February 2020 to incorporate the 2013 "Family Health History in the Electronic Health Record" Position Statement. Reaffirmed 2023.

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