BY: INSIDE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
As fertility organizations expand across regions, genetics is emerging as one of the most operationally sensitive areas of care. Differences in counseling practices, workflows, and patient education introduce clinical and compliance risk—particularly for networks managing care across dozens of sites. What once functioned as a localized service is now a system-wide liability if left inconsistent.
At the center of this shift is Jessica Medvedich, MBA, BSN, RN, NE-BC, Executive Director of Clinical Operations at the IVI RMA Network. Medvedich oversees clinical strategy and implementation across one of the largest fertility networks in the U.S. and Canada, where consistency must coexist with physician autonomy and patient-specific care.
Genetic Risk is One of the Most Critical – and Least Visible – Factors in Fertility Care
Even as advanced technologies transform reproductive medicine, genetic testing alone is not enough. Every test has limitations, and expert genetic counseling is essential to identify meaningful risk and to clearly explain what results can - and cannot – inform clinical decision making.
Without dedicated genetic counseling, key insights are frequently missed:
57% of patients had previously unrecognized genetic or family history risk
42% of those findings changed clinical management
(Thompson et al., Am J Perinatol, 2020)
In donor screening:
84% of applicants shared new or clarifying health information during genetic counseling
19% were subsequently found ineligible under ASRM or program guidelines
(Varriale C et al., J of Assist Reprod Genetics, 2025)
Incomplete genetic review – or failure to clearly communicate test limitations - creates care gaps, regulatory exposure, and loss of patient trust.
GeneScreen delivers concierge-level, comprehensive genetic counseling that integrates seamlessly into clinical workflows—supporting precision, accuracy, and patient-centered care at scale.
References:
Accuracy of Routine Prenatal Genetic Screening in Patients Referred for Genetic Counseling - PubMed
Operational Decisions Now Ripple Across Hundreds of Clinics and Thousands of Patients
Medvedich’s leadership approach is grounded in experience spanning direct patient care and large-scale operations. Early in her career as a nurse, she saw how fragmented systems and poorly aligned workflows affected both staff and patients—lessons that continue to guide her decision-making today.
“When making decisions that impact clinics and patients across a national network, I’m very intentional about balancing data and theory with lived experience,” she said. “I ask, ‘What does this feel like for the patient? For the nurse? For the physician?’”
That lens informs how initiatives are evaluated and rolled out across the network, particularly when changes affect clinical judgment, patient communication, or regulatory compliance.
“Large scale change only works when people understand why, trust the process, and see that decisions are grounded in patient safety, quality, and sustainability, not just efficiency.”
Genetic Results Are Forcing Treatment Pivots—and Harder Patient Conversations
In fertility care, genetics often introduces some of the most consequential decision points for patients. Medvedich has seen genetic screening meaningfully alter treatment plans, prevent transmission of inherited conditions, and prompt patients to reassess next steps altogether.
“Genetics is not a separate or optional component of fertility care,” she said. “It is embedded in responsible, patient-centered practice.”
What differentiates effective genetic integration, according to Medvedich, is not just access to testing, but how information is delivered. Clear counseling, consistent education, and time for patients to process complex risk information influence whether genetics supports confident decision-making or introduces confusion and anxiety. “When genetics is integrated thoughtfully and consistently, it allows care teams to move beyond simply achieving pregnancy toward supporting healthier outcomes and long-term wellbeing for the families we help to create.”
Standardization Becomes Non-Negotiable as Practice Variation Increases Risk
Scaling clinical programs across a national network requires clearly defined standards designed to protect patient safety, quality, and regulatory compliance. For Medvedich, those standards establish the baseline of care every patient should expect, regardless of location.
At the same time, implementation cannot be rigid. Clinical leaders across the network are engaged early to identify site-specific challenges and ensure protocols align with daily workflows. This approach preserves physician judgment while preventing drift that can expose organizations to unnecessary risk.
Change Management, Not Protocol Design, Determines Network Adoption
In large systems, success hinges less on what is written on paper and more on how change is communicated and supported. Education, stakeholder alignment, and structured rollout determine whether initiatives are adopted meaningfully or inconsistently applied.
When teams understand how a change supports their work and fits into the broader patient journey, adoption improves—and variation narrows.
Genetics Service Variation Creates Exposure—Driving Demand for Network-Wide Models
Genetics is one area where inconsistency can quickly undermine trust and continuity of care. For multi-site fertility organizations, fragmented counseling models introduce operational complexity and patient confusion.
To address this, the IVI RMA Network works with GeneScreen to support standardized, network-wide genetic counseling services. The model complements in-house genetic counselors while enabling consistent workflows, education, and care across locations. Leaders like Jessica Medvedich have played and continue to play a key role in evaluating and championing these integrated service models.
As fertility care continues to scale, genetics is increasingly treated not as a discrete service line but as core clinical infrastructure—essential to managing risk, supporting informed decision-making, and delivering consistent care across national systems.
Genetic Risk is One of the Most Critical – and Least Visible – Factors in Fertility Care
Even as advanced technologies transform reproductive medicine, genetic testing alone is not enough. Every test has limitations, and expert genetic counseling is essential to identify meaningful risk and to clearly explain what results can - and cannot – inform clinical decision making.
Without dedicated genetic counseling, key insights are frequently missed:
57% of patients had previously unrecognized genetic or family history risk
42% of those findings changed clinical management
(Thompson et al., Am J Perinatol, 2020)
In donor screening:
84% of applicants shared new or clarifying health information during genetic counseling
19% were subsequently found ineligible under ASRM or program guidelines
(Varriale C et al., J of Assist Reprod Genetics, 2025)
Incomplete genetic review – or failure to clearly communicate test limitations - creates care gaps, regulatory exposure, and loss of patient trust.
GeneScreen delivers concierge-level, comprehensive genetic counseling that integrates seamlessly into clinical workflows—supporting precision, accuracy, and patient-centered care at scale.
References:
Accuracy of Routine Prenatal Genetic Screening in Patients Referred for Genetic Counseling - PubMed
This News Digest Story is paid featured content. The advertiser has had editorial input and control over its creation. However, the views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Inside Reproductive Health. The sponsorship of this content does not imply an endorsement by Inside Reproductive Health.
