- Evaluating the Benefits and Challenges of Genomics in Healthcare
“We’ve built a model of Advanced Primary Care that is transforming the delivery of healthcare,” said J.P. Gallagher, President and Chief Executive Officer of NorthShore.
“We’ve seen firsthand that genetic information is a foundational part of healthcare for all patients. Clinically relevant findings provide lifesaving information that physicians can immediately use to diagnose, treat and even avoid diseases.”
In addition to clinical genomic testing, DNA-10K provided key resources that helped NorthShore scale genomics efficiently to over 10,000 patients. With Color’s genetic counseling infrastructure, patients and NorthShore physicians were able to interpret results and outline patient’s healthcare plans for the future.
Of the patients who participated in genetic counseling, 99 percent were able to see a counselor within 48 hours of requesting an appointment compared with the industry standard of 4-6 weeks. The program also helped improve patient engagement, empowering individuals to take control of their health.
Many patients also uncovered insights related to how they process medications: 99.8 percent of participants had at least one actionable finding associated with pharmacogenomics drug/gene interactions. NorthShore stated that 90 percent of participants were satisfied with their experience in the program, and 82 percent would recommend genetic testing to others. Nearly 80 percent consented to participate in third-party research.
Announced in January 2019, DNA-10K was built off a successful pilot that saw more than 1,000 patients sign up for genomic testing in less than two months.
“We’re excited about the ability to improve patient care by incorporating genomics information at the health system population level,” Dr. Peter Hulick, Medical Director of NorthShore’s Center for Personalized Medicine, told HealthITAnalytics.com in an interview at the time.
“Genomics is one part of assessing a patient’s health risk profile. This information needs to be incorporated with other health information about the patient to gain a truly holistic picture. Then, a tailored, personalized screening and prevention plan can be outlined for the patient.”
In 2020, NorthShore plans to expand the partnership to 30 additional clinics within the NorthShore system and its newest partner, Swedish Hospital. The program will also aim to integrate more sophisticated information into clinical care, including predictive polygenic risk scores for type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease.
“Over the past year Color and NorthShore have demonstrated an effective, efficient, and scalable way to integrate genomics into clinical care,” said Color CEO Othman Laraki. “NorthShore’s approach to care delivery is a model that will drive the future of the healthcare industry.”
By Jessica Kent