by brant bullard | Mar 3, 2016 | News
Maintaining a healthy mind, body, and spirit is as important to the caregiver as it is older adults.
Making sure your elderly family member is taking the right medications is important to getting them up, out and active.
A recent survey of 17,000 Medicare beneficiaries found that 2 out of 5 patients reported taking five or more prescription medicines.
According to Drugwatch.com, adults 65 and older often take multiple medications, both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. When people take more than one drug at the same time, it is called polypharmacy. While medications are intended to improve lives and relieve symptoms, in some cases they cause more problems.
Older adults may also fail to take the drugs in the proper way because they lose track of them, and sometimes certain drugs may interact with each other, causing additional symptoms and health problems.
By 2030, about 72 million people will be 65 or older. Today’s seniors live longer than before, which makes it important to make your extra years as fun-filled and pain-free as possible.
Adverse reactions attributable to prescription drug use cause an estimated 100,000 deaths and more than two million serious reactions in the United States each year, costing the healthcare industry more than $136 billion annually.
The PGx Medical Metabolic Validation Program can help reduce unnecessary medications and the risk for adverse drug reactions (ADR). A simple swab of the cheek can tell your healthcare provider what medications your body is able to metabolize which eliminates the trial and error process. This test can improve clinical outcomes and reduce the overall cost of prescription drugs by enabling better drug selection, earlier favorable results and lower rates of ADRs.
For more information, contact PGx Medical at (405) 509-5112 or info@pgxmed.com. www.pgxmed.com
by brant bullard | Nov 15, 2015 | Testimonials
Below are testimonials we’ve received from doctors, directors of nursing, pharmacists and government officials regarding our medication management program, via pharmacogenetic testing.
PGx Medical is the trusted and experienced resource for the implementation of pharmacogenetics in the field of aging services.
Pharmacogenetics aligns current and future medication with each persons unique genetic profile.
As we work alongside long-term care communities, clinics and pharmacies, we have the privilege of receiving success stories on how pharmacogenetics has impacted residents, patients, family and staff.
Pharmacogenetic Testing Addresses Clinical Concerns Such As Falls, Dementia, Sleep, Pain And Overall Staff Efficiencies.
We recently implemented pharmacogenetic testing and feel it is very easy to administer. The test results are helpful when dosing or treating our residents, and saves our staff time and frustration as providers by making sure our patients are on the correct medications. On average, approximately 90% of our patients need a dose change, med change or to discontinue a medication after testing.
We had one patient we had tried so many SSRI/SNRIs and after her PGx test, we were able to find the right medication regimen and now she feels great! We would recommend this program to anyone who has patients on multiple medications. ~Rachel Moore, PA-C~
I have found the pharmacogenetic test to be very useful for patients in my clinic practice as well as my nursing home patients. It is quick to use! In fact, my nurses do all of the work and then they go thru the results and alert me of the medications that are less likely to work for those patients. It takes no time for me at all! The paperwork is very minimal and nurses can fill it out. It takes less than a minute to swab the inside of both cheeks. Then it gets mailed off and the results come back in just a few days.
I had a patient in my clinic that had seen multiple doctors, a psychiatrist and several counselors for her depression. She had tried many medications to help her depression but she complained that none of them made her feel better. We did a pharmacogenetic test and found out that the patient had a gene mutation that kept ALL of the antidepressants from working. No wonder she never felt better with the medications! From the test results we found some alternative medications that could be used to treat her depression. She was so relieved that there was a really good reason for the previous anti-depressants not to work.
I had a patient who had shoulder surgery who kept complaining that the Hydrocodone did not help his pain. The Naproxen actually did better in controlling his pain. We did a pharmacogenetic test and found out that Hydrocodone does not work well for his pain but Naproxen works best. This is helpful information if he ever has to use pain medication again.
I had a patient who complained that his pain meds were not working at all and would ask for more and more. I suspected he was a drug seeker but could not prove it. We did a pharmacogenetic test on him and discovered ALL of the narcotics work well for him. We now know he is a drug seeker and treat him appropriately.
The PGx Medical Pharmacogenetic test is helpful if a patient is not responding to a medication as well as we think they should. This helps us chose appropriate medications that are more likely to work and avoid those that may cause problems for the patient. It is very helpful with resistant depression, psychosis and ADHD medication failures. I am even starting to use the testing first before prescribing any medication. Patients love the testing because we can avoid the medications that are not likely to work or those that could cause adverse reactions; they get on the right medications quicker with less trial and error. Insurances like it because it saves them money by getting quicker results without multiple medication changes.
Nursing Home surveyors encourage nursing homes to use the pharmacogenetic testing on patients to try to keep patients off of multiple medications and to use those that work well. It also decreases the adverse reactions and helps keep patients off of anti-psychotics or at least on minimal doses of anti-psychotics. ~ Dr. Jami Benton ~
“The PGx Medical pharmacogenetic test program has yielded great results at our home. It is now a fully implemented tool my clinical staff reviews with all of our residents. The reports are easy to understand with clear actionable recommendations. I am thankful we were allowed to be the first to have such a tool to use here at our home. Each resident deserves our very best.”~Treva, MD~
“Seems too good to be true, but always produces positive results. I utilize the testing daily now in my practice. For Geriatrics provides the tool for easy medication adjustments. The reports are not complex. Very beneficial for identifying the effectiveness of analgesics in residents who are unable to communicate. There are residents that we may have labeled as ‘drug seekers’, and when the DNA test report is returned we discover that the analgesic they were prescribed is not being metabolized in their body and they are getting no relief from their pain. So they have legitimate pain and the analgesic has not been effective in reducing their pain. This test only has to be performed on each resident one time in their life. That makes it very cost effective. And the reimbursement process has been very easy. The families love it! It tells them exactly what their loved one metabolizes and what is best for them”. The DNA Test results give confidence to the residents that they are being prescribed the correct medications. Yes, would highly recommend this program! CMS should mandate the test for all residents on Antipsychotics!” ~Dr. Mike M, Long Term Care Physician~
“It is important to me to ensure that each of our veterans in all of our State VA homes are cared for on an individual basis. I was excited to learn of the potential the PGx Medical Pharmacogenetic Program offered and I brought it forward to our administrative and clinical teams, as it seemed to be a ‘no brainer’ for our homes to implement. I’ve heard nothing but positive results and praises of both the Program and PGx Medical.” ~Maj Gen (ret) Secretary of Military and Veterans Affairs~
“This DNA Testing has been a Win-Win for both the residents and families! By utilizing the DNA test results we know exactly which medication is effective for the residents. It is a tremendous cost saver on medications. Not all people that we think are ‘pain seekers’ really are. We had one resident that kept begging for more and more pain meds. We did the DNA Swab Test on her and the test revealed that she was metabolizing zero percent of the pain medication. So she was truly in pain. We are such Believers in this program! It is a wonderful Marketing Tool! We can advertise that we provide the best care possible for residents on these medications!”~Brenda W. Clinical Manager~
“I was privileged to introduce the PGx Medical Pharmacogenetic Testing Program to the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs. As a State Representative, I felt this program was in the best interest of each of our Veterans living in the seven ODVA homes, and to those who are in the homes caring for and assisting them everyday. This program has been exceptional and has produced wonderful results while helping the homes practice a level of personalized care that was previously unattainable. The program has also been clinically and economically beneficial to veterans living in homes.”~State Representative~
“I perform about 20 of the DNA Tests a week. The results are a tremendous help in my practice. The DNA Report provides an objective list to choose from to help my patients. Not knowing the metabolic profile of the patients increases the risk of side effects. It is hit and miss without the test. There is no trial and error period when you use the DNA swab testing. It allows me to select from a list of medications that will help my patients. I recommend this program to many other Doctors and patients. It gives you an individualized report with objective information to correctly order the right medication.”~Dr. Timothy B, Pain Management Specialist~
“We initiated this DNA Testing program in response to the CMS Directive to reduce our Antipsychotic usage. Through the metabolic reports, we have identified that residents were receiving antipsychotics that were actually adverse for them. These residents have shown a marked improvement in abilities and a reduction in side effects. The residents are doing so much better now that they are off these medications. The Family members are very excited about the results. All the medication changes have been positive. When the swab reports come back we have been amazed. We then understand why the residents have been exhibiting behaviors and mood swings. This program is very individualized. It has positive results for everyone, but first and foremost the residents. Our Administrator Markets this DNA Testing as a great program for our residents and the facilities. We have multiple Physicians that see our residents. Some of the Physicians were skeptical at first, but now they are really happy with the results. When we had our Survey, we had signed up with AssureRx but had not put the program into place. The Surveyors asked that we write a letter for them to take back to their Office about out Pending DNA Antipsychotic Program. They were so interested that the Surveyor called back and asked if we would fax them copies of the results. The Surveyor stated their Supervisors were very impressed with the individualized data provided.”~Jennifer H., Director of Nursing~
“The PGx Pharmacogenetic Test was easy for us to see the clinical value it offers, even before implemented. The implementation process that PGx offered was very simple, with very little interruption to our staff. As a pharmacist, the information is extremely valuable on my monthly med reviews and for all new residents upon admission. It helps address the issues of polypharmacy, unnecessary medications and more importantly is another tool to help assure that our residents are getting the best therapy for them. It is a great tool for any pharmacist to have.”~Valarie, DHP~
For more information on how you can implement pharmacogenetics into your community, clinic or pharmacy, contact us at:
PGx Medical
Empowerment at the Source of Treatment
Individualized Care – Personalized Medicine
405-509-5112
info@pgxmed.com
by brant bullard | Nov 1, 2015 | News
In light of the tragedies this past year around the country, mental illness is a hot topic.
According the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the most recent data shows there have been 39,518 suicides reported making suicide the 10th leading cause of death for Americans. In 2011, someone died by suicide every 13.3 minutes. These statistics are alarming.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness states one in four adults – approximately 61.5 million Americans experience mental illness in a given year. One in 17, approximately 13.6 million live with a serious mental illness sucha as schizophrenia, major depression or bipolar disease.
Serious mental illness costs America $193.2 billion in lost earning per year. And mood disorders such as depression are the third most common cause of hospitalization in the U.S. for both youth and adults ages 18-44.
According to the Washington Post, the mental health-care system in the United States is a multibillion-dollar industry that is still not big enough to serve all those who need it. Costs are a big barrier to treatments — but so are attitudes about mental health. New laws might change access to mental health, although significant barriers still remain. Here’s a look at what we invest in the mental health-care system, what that buys us and where gaps in coverage remain.
The United States spends $113 billion on mental health treatment. That works out to about 5.6 percent of the national healthcare spending, according to a 2011 paper in Journal Health Affairs. And those mental health dollars mostly go toward prescription drugs and outpatient treatment, according to Kaiser Family Foundation.
But how do we know if the medications we are giving mental health patients are even working?
Studies show that over 50% of patients have a variant gene that alters the rate of which they metabolize medications.
So what does this mean for mental illness? How do we know if the medications we are prescribing are even metabolizing?
Predicting patient response
Pharmacogenomics is now being used to help identify genes to help physicians improve the selection of medications for patients with depression and other psychiatric disorders. The test is a simple buccal swab of the cheek that is sent to a laboratory to determine how patients will respond to medications. These tests are designed to aid healthcare professionals when treating patients and eliminate the “trial & error” process which may take too long when dealing with mental illness.
Pharmacogenomics is a way to personalize medicine for each individual. It will help identify patients who might experience adverse effects from antidepressants or antipsychotic medications and help improve adherence.
At PGx Medical we work with hundreds of homes, clinics and pharmacies across the country educating and consulting with healthcare professionals regarding our Metabolic Validation Program. Our consultants work alongside healthcare professionals to help them understand test results and implement them into their day to day patient care.
For more information on how you can implement the PGx Medical Metabolic Validation Program into your healthcare setting, contact:
PGx Medical
Individualized Care – Personalized Mediciane
info@pgxmed.com
405-509-5112
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by brant bullard | Sep 18, 2015 | Metabolic Validation Program
Pharmacogenetic Testing is a tool to help decrease bad outcomes.
When educating Long Term Care and Assisted Living facilities, one common theme we hear is, “we don’t have a need” or “we will only test residents who have a need”. So who determines the residents that need it the most? How do you know that a memory care resident is getting the therapy needed to alleviate their pain? Or that a resident with behavorial problems is really just taking the wrong medications and they don’t even have the ability to metabolize them? That is the value of pharmacogenetic testing. Knowing from the inside out a persons genetic makeup.
For too long now, medication has been a guessing game. Let’s try a medication for a few weeks and if we don’t see a change, let’s try something else. Or even worse, let’s throw something else on top of that one and see if it helps. Adding a list of medications that may, or maynot be working.
Why not determine and “validate” up front the medications that work best for each individual and then proceed with a pharmaceutical regimen. A medical plan of action is what we like to call it. A proper med-effective dosage means less falls, less behavorial issues and a decrease risk of side effects.
Metabolic Validation, via pharmacogenetic testing is a great way to help your residents and has the potential to help maximize profitability due to the cost saving in medication and re-hospitalization.
At PGx Medical, it is our goal to help educate and implement this program in homes across the country. Our goal with LeadingAge, OFMQ, OAHCP and the OK Dept of Health – LTC Division is to help educate and share the message – Prevention Decreases Bad Outcomes.
For more information on pharmacogenetic testing, or to schedule a meeting with PGx Medical, contact:
PGx Medical
Individualized Care – Personalized Medicine
405-509-5112
info@pgxmed.com
by brant bullard | Aug 31, 2015 | Metabolic Validation Program
PGx Medical analyzes clinically relevant genetic variants for 19 genes and receptor sites related to medication reponse.
The PGx Medical program, Metabolic Validation, via pharmacogenetic testing is a non-invasive buccal swab of the cheek that helps healthcare professionals customize prescribing decisions.
The test results are ready to view 48 hours from the date our lab receives the sample allowing clinicians to make proper prescribing decisions quickly and accurately for each individual patient.
Individual patient response to medications is influenced by genetic variation in the enzymes responsible for drug metabolism as well as targeted receptors and transporters. Variations in metabolism can cause life-threatening toxicity in one patient and reduce drug effectiveness in another.
Prescribing the right drug, and the right dose, for the right person. Individualized care tailored to fit each person moving beyond the trial and error process.
While the science behind each test is complex, the process for providing personalized medicine to each patient is designed to be simple.
For more information on identifying the best medications for your patients, contact:
PGx Medical
Individualized Care – Personalized Medicine
www.pgxmed.com
info@pgxmed.com
405-509-5112
