by brant bullard | May 19, 2015 | Partners
In our promise to inspire, serve and advocate for older adults in Oklahoma, LeadingAge acknowledges the need for education and adoption of innovative technology and solutions for culture change. We are very proud to be an association of members who are forward-thinking and redefining the traditional “standards of care”. Members who are embracing a new standard that allows residents to Live Longer… Better.
LeadingAge Oklahoma is excited to announce our strategic partnership with PGx Medical. PGx Medical’s President, Clay Bullard, spoke at our Spring Conference a few weeks ago and was very well received.
The PGx Metabolic Validation Program allows for a personalized/unique patient report validating the patient is getting the right drug, in the right dose, for the right diagnosis based upon how each individual patient metabolizes certain medications. This helps eliminate unnecessary medications, reduce possible side effect, help maintain mobility, reduce falls and avoid drug on drug interaction that can have significant and often negative effects.
PGx Medical helps facilities and communities gain an understanding of the role metabolic validation testing can and should have within the care provided to older Oklahomans. They also educate the facility owners, physicians, administrators, and staff as to the value the test results can have on the bottom line and helping their residents be more active and age in place.
We chose to partner with PGx for three very specific reasons. First, we have seen in many of our members’ facilities that this tool can have a tremendously positive effect with residents they serve. Secondly, PGx has been advocating with the Oklahoma Dept. of Health – LTC Division (under former leader Dorya Huser and now Director Mike Cook) with ongoing training for the State Surveyors and speaking at the State Education Symposiums throughout the 2014 calendar year to help with CMS Psychotropic Med Reduction and Unnecessary Med Reductions Initiatives. Thirdly, this technology should inspire us all to look at what we are doing and realizing that new tools are available to provide better care and accessible with no cost to our members.
Finally, I encourage you all to reach out to PGx Medical to have them educate your team of caregivers on the value this tool can provide. Work with your physicians and encourage them to work with you to provide the best care possible with the best tools available.
The PGx website is www.pgxmed.com and they can be reached via phone at (405) 509-5112. I am more than happy to give you my insights on the value this tool affords our members and you can reach me via email at mary@LeadingAgeOK.org.
Join me in welcoming PGx to the LeadingAge Oklahoma family, and embrace the technology they provide to help us all fulfill our promise to be forward thinking in enhancing the level of care we provide the residents of Oklahoma we serve.
by brant bullard | May 19, 2015 | Partners
PGx Medical is an Oklahoma based business development and consulting company that focuses on:
- overall patient well being & quality of life
- efficiency in the facility
- reduction of healthcare costs
We focus on assisting physicians, managed care organizations, pharmaceutical companies and other healthcare entities in their efforts to make the best possible therapeutic decisions for patients through the implementation of Metabolic Validation testing.
Cost to Facility > $0
Value to profitability > Significant Value to resident > immeasurable
We are dedicated to building trust and loyalty from our customers by providing accurate and timely laboratory results while proactively offering superior service and the most innovative program in the industry.
Metabolic Validation (Pharmacogenomic Testing)
Identify patients via pharmacogenomic testing who do not normally/extensively metabolize psychiatric, anti-depressant, anxiety, anti-coagulants, pain or cardio meds extensively, or might be poor or Intermediate metabolizer and at a higher risk for potential pharma event. Subsequently, implement necessary drug regiment changes as results are reviewed.
Validate that current medication regiment is the “best” regiment based upon each residents’ pharmacogenomic testing results. Reduce trial and error medication costs and reduce number of patients on medications that can be genetically proven to provide no opportunity for therapy for each specific patient. Embrace Personalized medicine.
FDA Statistics on Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs)
by brant bullard | May 19, 2015 | News
Pharmacy Consultants Case Study on the Utilization of Metabilic Validation
Garrett Huxall, Pharm.D, CGP, FASCP
Executive Director, PharmCareOK
As a pharmacy consultant and nursing home owner, understanding medications and their side effects is critical to my patient care. I have been utilizing a metabolic validation program that allows me to recommend proper medication therapy more quickly and accurately. The tool from PGx Medical replaces the “trial and error” process consultants cannot afford in a nursing home setting.
I have countless success stories due to the metabolic validation report, however, what I am finding is the small changes make the biggest impact. I now adjust dosages based on the resident/patient’s metabolic report. Furthermore, I now select medications that can be properly metabolized, where in the past I would have just gone to the next drug and hoped for a better outcome.
Case Study #1 – [88 year old female Alzheimer patient that was on Aricept, Namenda and Zyprexa because she was frequently falling]. After getting the metabolic validation test report, we determined she needed a few med changes based upon her metabolic profile. There were certain mutations within her system that were not allowing the medication to provide therapy.
With the physician’s approval, we immediately transitioned her to a different drug, Geodon. She responded very well to Geodon and now, we have even been able to reduce her dosage of Geodon. She has not fallen since and is on a lower dosage of medication than she was prior to us using the metabolic profile results.
Previously, without the testing results to guide us, this change may have taken several different methods and a longer time frame to achieve results. It was very reassuring and validating to me that we were able to intervene with this resident on a much quicker basis and help her avoid falls, which is a benefit to the clinical team and the medical director.
In this case, the small change with guidance from the test results allowed for a rapid intervention that may have taken months. The small changes can have tremendous benefits to all parties involved. The test results came back in a matter of a day or two and we were able to save thousands of future Medicare dollars as a result of avoiding possible injuries due to her falls.
Educating the clinical team and medical directors at the facility on the value this tool provides is crucial, as it is 100% covered by Medicare. It’s important to reassure residents and family members that the medications they are taking are the most appropriate and able to provide proper therapy. A less medicated, cognizant, mobile resident allows for the home to be more efficient and profitable.
by brant bullard | May 11, 2015 | Surveys
Happy National Nursing Home week from PGx Medical!
Bring On The Fiesta!
At PGx Medical we want you to know how much we appreciate what you do as a nursing home professional. And as our way of saying “thank you”, we hope you will complete this short survey for your chance to win a lunch for you and your staff compliments of PGx Medical!
Go to: PGx Survey to complete the survey for your chance to win!
Our goal at PGx Medical is to improve patient outcome through individualized care and personalized medicine. Through our PGx Metabolic Validation testing, we can help healthcare professionals determine the right drug, right dose, for the right person providing a better quality of life and lower healthcare costs.
Thank you for all that you do and have a GREAT National Nursing Home Week! Winner will be announced on Monday, May 18th!
PGx Medical Team
405-509-5112
info@pgxmed.com
Individualized Care – Personalized Medicine
www.pgxmed.com
by brant bullard | Apr 7, 2015 | News
Potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) continue to be prescribed and used as first-line treatment for the most vulnerable of older adults, despite evidence of poor out- comes from the use of PIMs in older adults.
Medication-related problems are common, costly, and often preventable in older adults and lead to poor outcomes. Avoiding the use of inappropriate and high-risk drugs is an important, simple, and effective strategy in reducing medication-related problems and adverse drug events in older adults.
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