by brant bullard | Dec 30, 2015 | Metabolic Validation Program
It is hard to believe that 2015 is coming to a close. From all of us at PGx Medical, we wish you a safe and Happy New Year!
We want to start by saying “thank you” to our partners, clients and employees. We are truly blessed to have such a wonderful team!
In January 2015, we officially settled in our new corporate headquarters in Edmond, OK. This office has given us the space we need to hire more staff to continue our high level of customer service.
Our goal this past year was to educate healthcare proffessionals across the country on the benefits of Metabolic Validation, via pharmacogenetic testing. We started the year by partnering with organizations that play a huge part in quality care for senior communities. These partnerships are vital as we all have the same common goal – to help senior communities provide the best care possible. Through those partnerships, we were able to educate and implement the program in hundreds of homes, clinics and pharmacies across the country. Tailoring treatments uniquely to each individual and guiding healthcare professionals in dosing.
In 2015, I was privileged to speak to many homes, conferences and organizations about our program and how medication management can help reduce falls, unnecessary medications, and help residents have a better quality of life. Below are just a few.
- Touchmark at Coffee Creek
- LeadingAge Oklahoma
- Sterling House in Stillwater
- Virginia Assisted Living Spring Conference
- Oklahoma Residental Assisted Living Association (ORALA)
- Oklahoma Osteopathic Association (OOA)
- Oklahoma Association of Healthcare Providers (OAHCP)
- American Indian Chamber of Commerce (AICCO)
- LeadingAge Missouri Annual Conference
- Oklahoma Foundation of Medical Quality (OFMQ)
- Oklahoma Hospice Association Conference
I also had the privilege to educate Oklahoma State Surveyors on this tool and speak at Provider Training Meetings throughout the year.
Our program was also highlighted in many print publications, as well as radio and tv. Physicians and health providers across the state wrote testimonials and case studies on outcomes based on changes from test results. We are appreciative and humbled by their willingness to share these stories.
Pharmacogenetic testing has received a lot of attention uner the umbrella of Precision Medicine, and we are exited to see that continue.
My team and I look forward to your continued work with our current customer and partners; as well as, expanding our work to many more physicians and care providers who are desiring to increase medical efficiencies, reduce cost, increase better outcomes, and ultimately do the best they can do for each individual patient.
Enjoy the holidays! As always, you can contact us anytime with questions or comments.
PGx Medical
Individualized Care – Personalized Medicine
www.pgxmed.com
405-509-5112
info@pgxmed.com
by brant bullard | Oct 27, 2015 | Metabolic Validation Program
So what is your medical plan of action to help reduce falls and unnecessary medications?
As falls in the elderly continue to rise, some senior communities are looking for ways to help reduce those falls and provide their residents with a better, more active, way of life.
During a recent LeadingAge Oklahoma Culture Change meeting, leaders in the industry discussed falls and ways to help prevent them. Members of the Governor’s Task Force on Healthy Aging attended the meeting and discussed lack of sleep and medications as two leading contributors in falls. They also discussed Patient Centered Care and the importance of listening to what the patient is telling you about his or her needs.
Lack of Sleep in Elderly:
There are many things that cause lack of sleep. Alarms, staff interuptions and incontinence, to name a few. Attendees discussed ways to eliminate these things to help residents sleep better and be more active.
Pharmacogenetic Testing:
Medication management was another area they discussed. Making sure your residents are on the right medications and only on medications their body can metabolize and provides them therapy. PGx Medical attended the meeting and spoke to the group about their Metabolic Validation Program, via pharmacogenetic testing. This no-cost program is a great way to provide your residents with individualized care and personalized medicine. The non-invasive buccal swab of the cheek will guide healthcare professionals in dosing residents.
Should everyone be tested? No. Only residents with medical necessity should be tested. Medical necessity is anyone on one or more prescription medications that fall into the area of; depression, anxiety, psych, pain, cardio, anti-coag, ADHD and thrombophilia. Which are common in the senior setting.
Preventing falls not only saves money from re-hospitalization, but it also extends and saves lives.
- About one third of the elder population over the age of 65 falls each year, and the risk of falls increases proportionately with age. At 80 years, over half of seniors fall annually
- Frequent falling. Those who fall are two to three times more likely to fall again.
- About half (53%) of the older adults who are discharged for fall-related hip fractures will experience another fall with in six months.
- Falls are the leading cause of death due to injury among the elderly 87% of all fractures in the elderly are due to falls.
- Falls account for 25% of all hospital admissions, and 40% of all nursing home admissions 40% of those admitted do not return to independent living; 25% die within a year.
By having a Medical Plan of Action in place to help prevent falls in your senior community, that is a big step to healthier, more active seniors. Allowing you to spend more time helping them live out their life with dignity and purpose.
For more information on pharmacogenetic testing, contact:
PGx Medical
Individualized Care – Personalized Medicine
info@pgxmed.com
405-509-5112
Source: learnnottofall.com
by brant bullard | Oct 27, 2015 | Metabolic Validation Program
Have you decided to incorporate pharmacogenetic testing in your day-to-day patient care, but don’t know where to start?
When looking for a partner to educate and implement pharmacogenetic testing into your senior community, pharmacy or clinic, there are three things you should look for.
- How many genes do they test?
- PGx Medical reports on 19 genes and receptor sites giving you the “whole picture” which allows you to make more informed decisions when treating patients.
- Response time:
- We know in a senior community or when dealing with hospice patients, timing is critical. At PGx Medical, test results are back within 48 hours of the time our laboratory receives the sample. Our reports are available on your personal online portal, or printed, whichever you prefer.
- Implementation:
- What good is a test result if you don’t understand it? Our team of consultants will schedule an implementation call or face-to-face meeting with you to discuss test results and allow you to ask questions that will help you implement results with your patients. Once initial implementation is complete, your consultant will follow up with you on a monthly basis to ensure you have everything you need to help serve your patients.
Be sure you ask these important questions when choosing a partner. At PGx Medical, pharmacogenetic testing is all we do. We pride ourselves in being a leader in the industry and we value your input. By listening to what our partners are saying, this allows us to continue to grow and provide healthcare professionals with a valuable tool to guide them in dosing their patients.
And PGx Medical has partnered with leaders in the industry to include, LeadingAge Oklahoma, OFMQ, OAHCP and many others to help educate healthcare providers across the country.
Right Drug, Right Dose, Right Person
For more information, contact:
PGx Medical
Individualized Care – Personalized Medicine
info@pgxmed.com
405-509-5112
by brant bullard | Oct 7, 2015 | Metabolic Validation Program
Pharmacogenomic testing isn’t new, but reimbursements have increased the number of patients being tested.
Who pays for the cost of a pharmacogenetic test?
Pharmacogenomic testing has been around for decades, but up until a few years ago, most people couldn’t afford it. Now CMS (The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) reimburses 100% for Medicare B patients and in select states, 100% for Medicaid patients. Private insurers cover testing based upon medical necessity. There is no cost to physicians, LTC facilities, pharmacies, consultants, or clinics.
Who should receive pharmacogenetic testing?
Pharmacogenetic testing should only be performed based upon medical necessity. Medical necessity is determined by the physician.
The following situations may qualify as medical necessity:
- Patients taking a large number of medications with the potential for serious adverse effects.
- Patients taking medications with a high risk of drug interactions.
- When patients do not respond to drug treatment and options are limited.
- Patients with an unexpected pattern of side effects to medications.
If you are interested in being tested, or you are a healthcare professional and would like to incorporate this program into your day-to-day patient care, contact:
PGx Medical
Individualized Care – Personalized Medicine
info@pgxmed.com
405-509-5112
www.pgsmed.com
by brant bullard | Oct 5, 2015 | Metabolic Validation Program
PGx Medical specializes in pharmacogenetic testing. So what makes us different?
Almost daily we receive a phone call that asks the question, “we were approached by a lab that just started doing pharmacogenetic testing. What makes you different?”
To start with, Metabolic Validation, via pharmacogenetic testing is ALL we do. Our team of consultants travel around the country educating and implementing this no-cost drug response tool that can help healthcare professionals put together a clinical action plan to guide their choice of therapy and dose for each individual patient.
The term “personalized medicine” is just that. Tailored to each individual person to let you know what medications they metabolize, and which ones they don’t. Pharmacogenetic testing (PGx) can stop the guessing by providing information about the metabolic phenotype of your patient.
PGx Medical offers healthcare professionals education on the program, clinical staff to perform the swab, and test results that are ready within 48 hours on your personal online portal. Once results are ready to view, your PGx Medical consultant will schedule a time to review results with you and answer any questions you might have. Helping you implement results with your patients to get the best medical outcome.
But we don’t stop there. Your consultant will contact you on a monthly or bi-monthly basis, whichever you prefer, to answer questions, supply more test kits, or just walk you through the process to allow you to incorporate the program into your facility and make it part of your day to day patient care.
Who pays for the test?
Medicare B covers the test 100% and we do not balance bill. And most private insurance companies cover the test minus normal co-pays and deductibles. Our lab tests 19 genes and receptor sites giving you the whole picture to help clinicians make individualized prescribing decisions. And PGx Medical handles all billing to help eliminate additional work for your staff. Our program helps you, help your residents live longer…better!
A no-cost tool, that will help manage medications, and provide your patients with a better quality of life. And be rest assured, we won’t ever sell you a test kit and walk out the door. Our program is designed to be a Long Term Medication Management tool for you and your patients.
For more information on how you can implement our program, or to schedule an educational meeting, contact:
PGx Medical
Individualized Care – Personalized Medicine
405-509-5112
info@pgxmed.com
www.pgxmed.com
by brant bullard | Sep 29, 2015 | Metabolic Validation Program
Pharmacogenetic Testing can stop the guessing by providing information about the metabolic phenotype of your patient that translates into a medical plan of action to guide your choice of therapy and dose.
Recently when speaking to a group of healthcare professionals we were asked the question, “how long does it take to get our pharmacogenetic test results back?”
At PGx Medical, our test results are ready to view on your online portal within 48 hours from the time our lab receives test sample. And your PGx Medical consultant will schedule a time to go over reports to answer any questions you might have and help you implement results in your home.
What if I have already tested some residents with another company but haven’t seen results?
Give us a call 405-509-5112. We’ll be happy to help you any way we can. No contracts, no cost, just an easy tool to help you, help your residents live a better quality of life.
PGx Medical
Individualized Care – Personalized Medicine
405-509-5112
info@pgxmed.com
www.pgxmed.com
