by PGx Medical | Feb 24, 2017 | Friday FOCUS on Pharmacogenetics
Welcome to our Friday FOCUS on Pharmacogenetics
Each Friday we will post new and relevant information regarding Pharmacogenetics. We hope you will find this useful and pass along to colleagues. If you should have any questions regarding pharmacogenetics, please feel free to reach out to us at PGx Medical, info@pgxmed.com or 405-509-5112.
Pharmacist and Pharmacogenetics:
Pharmacists understand better then anyone the importance of proper prescribing and the risks involved if a patient is on medications their body doesn’t metabolize properly.
A pharmacist can include pharmacogenetic information in medication therapy management (MTM) programs and areas that commonly use medications affected by pharmacogenetic variations, such as, but not limited to, pain, cardio and psychiatry.
As part of the PGx Medical exclusive program, a pharmacist can identify at-risk patients, work with their physicians to manage test results, and offer ongoing medication therapy management services afterwards. The consultant pharmacist can also decipher pharmacogenetic test results to determine whether patients have the proper enzymes to metabolize their medications. This is especially important in seniors or residents living in long term care communities.
As you get older your muscles tend to decrease in size, fat increases and your metabolism begins to slow down. Age-related changes in the kidneys, liver, and other organs will influence the way many medications work. Aging can also affect the ability of the liver to break down drug compounds (metabolism). The elderly have a decrease in liver blood flow, liver size, and enzyme activity. These changes can affect the ability of the liver to break down drugs so that they are easily eliminated. Due to a decrease in liver function, it may be necessary to reduce the dose of some medications that are metabolized by the liver.
Pharmacists are well positioned to play a major role in implementing pharmacogenetic information
For more information on pharmacogenetics, contact PGx Medical at info@pgxmed.com or 405-509-5112.
source: editorsweb.org, ncbi.gov
by PGx Medical | Dec 16, 2016 | Friday FOCUS on Pharmacogenetics
Welcome to our Friday FOCUS on Pharmacogenetics
Each Friday we will post new and relevant information regarding Pharmacogenetics. We hope you will find this useful and pass along to colleagues. If you should have any questions regarding pharmacogenetics, please feel free to reach out to us at PGx Medical, info@pgxmed.com or 405-509-5112.
How do the New CMS regulations for LTC impact LTC Pharmacists?
(Final Rule Published: Published October 4, 2016)
Below are several new items and new terminology that LTC pharmacy consultants need to be aware of. PGx testing is a great tool to help validate and document these new regulations.
New terminology used by CMS is “person care plan”. Pharmacogenetics, also known as personalized medicine is a great tool for “person centered care plans” and is currently used by communities, clinics and pharmacies across the country. When pharmacists advise physicians on a person centered care plan with specific DNA guidelines, pharmacogenetics has documented reports that a pharmacist can provide to the facility for State Survey as evidence of a person centered care plan of action.
The same would apply to “comprehensive assessments” that are newly required and for the focus on reduction of psych medications. CMS uses the language “residents who use psychotropic drugs receive gradual dose reductions, and behavioral interventions, unless clinically contraindicated, in an effort to discontinue these drugs”.
How do you document clinically contraindicated for residents who need the meds, yet the facility is saying they have to get them off these meds?
Once a physician properly diagnoses the patient/resident, the clock starts in “gradual reduction requirements”; unless, you have evidence that it is the proper medication, at the right dosage, based on that individuals PGx test profile.
How do you know if the dose is right to begin with? Is the patient an ultra rapid metabolizer? Are they an intermediate metabolizer? Or do you just assume that everyone is an extensive/normal metabolizer and then wait to hear from the home that the meds are giving them therapy as intended.
Science has evolved way beyond “trial and error” methodology. Pharmacogenetics is Person Centered Care. PGx Medical is the piece of the puzzle that has been missing in pharmacogenetics. Some test results sit with no changes made or documented mainly due to education issues – or lack of. PGx Medical is a consulting company that travels the country educating, implementing and following up with healthcare professionals to make sure the test results are understood and implemented, or documented that no change is required. Partnering with PGx Medical to incorporate the testing program for your facilities can have a major impact in efficiencies, care plans and documentation that can help every LTC Pharmacy consultant. CMS has increased the burden and workload to include the pharmacist, let us know how we can help.
Pharmacogenetics is a great tool to help manage medications. This no-cost test will provide healthcare professionals with evidence-based reports unique to each individual resident based on their genetic profile. Providing physicians, nurses and pharmacists with valuable information to help determine the best medical plan of action as it relates to medication management. Whether it is psychotropic reduction, drug-on-drug interactions, or a report that helps reduce/increase dosages as appropriate for each individual, pharmacogenetics will provide you with the information needed to help guide you with current medications, and be a roadmap for future medications.
PGx Medical is the trusted and experienced resource for the implementation of pharmacogenetics in the field of aging services. Contact PGx Medical for more information, or to be part of an ongoing operational Pilot Program:
PGx Medical
Individualized Care – Personalized Medicine
info@pgxmed.com
405-509-5112
