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 | Jan 1, 2015 | Partners
Dr. Jami Benton, MD
I have found the Metabolic Validation 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. The swab 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 the Metabolic Validation testing 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. He did the Metabolic Validation testing 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. He did the Metabolic Validation testing and ALL of the narcotics work well for him. We now know he is a drug seeker and treat him appropriately.
The PGx Medical Metabolic Validation 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 Metabolic Validation 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.
Jami Benton, M.D., graduated with a Bachelor of Science in biology from Northwestern Oklahoma State University. She then attended the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine and completed a Master of Science, as well as a Doctor of Medicine, degree. Benton completed a residency in 2008 at the Oklahoma University Rural Family Practice residency program where she served as chief resident.
Benton has been committed to providing health care in northwest Oklahoma since completion of her residency. She is board certified in family practice and is a member of the American Academy of Family Practice.
Dr. Benton currently practices at Integris Family First in Enid, OK. She also see’s patients at the Integris Clinic – Cherokee Family Clinic in Cherokee, OK and is the current Medical Director at Cherokee Manor and Fairview Fellowship Home.
To schedule an appointment, please call 580-242-4300.
For more information on Metabolic Validation Testing, contact,
PGx Medical
Individualized Care – Personalized Medicine
info@pgxmed.com
405-509-5112
by brant bullard | Oct 27, 2014 | Partners
As part of our ongoing relationship with our partners, PGx Medical loves to share what they are saying about us and our program.
PGx Medical Metabolic Validation Program
Interview with:
Karen White, Director of Nursing
Cordell Christian Home
Q: As a DON and/or Administrator, do you find the PGx Medical Metabolic Validation Program to be easy to administer?
DON: Yes it is very easy.
Q: How much time do you and your staff allow to test your residents?
DON: I haven’t actually given that a lot of thought. We wait until we have a few residents that need the test, then obtain a buccal sample and send it off.
Q: Do you find the test results to be helpful when dosing or treating your residents?
DON: Yes! We are able to understand our residents’ needs better.
Q: Tell us why your home chose to implement Metabolic Validation testing?
DON: We thought the testing would improve how we care for our residents and it did. Also, our OSDH survey team was really impressed with our steps to help keep the psychotropic drug use at a minimal amount.
Q: How has metabolic validation (aka pharmacogenomics) changed the culture of your home and med review for patients in your home?
DON: We are able to provide even more individualized care to our people.
Q: What % of residents on average do you see, after testing, are in need of a dose change or med change or discontinuing of a medication?
DON: We have made a few changes in medications. But I have a peaceful mind that we are doing everything we should be doing for our residents to perform at their highest practicable.
Q: Has metabolic validation played a role in avoiding F-tags in your home?
DON: I think it helps in our defense as to why someone requires a larger dose of a certain medication, or why someone needs a medication more often than others. 2014 was the first year that we did not get the ‘unnecessary drug’ tag!
For more information on how you can schedule Metabolic Validation Testing, contact:
PGx Medical
Individualized Care – Personalized Medicine
Info@pgxmed.com
405-509-5112
by brant bullard | Mar 10, 2014 | Partners
At PGx Medical, we are passionate about what we do and helping not only the senior community, but health care professionals in determining the right medication, right dose, for the right patient.
And we feel it is important to spread the word and support other partners who support what we do.
Welcome:
Senior Housing Forum
About Senior Housing Forum:
Senior Housing Forum is a website that is focused on publishing articles that are of interest to developers and operators of senior living communities.
There are 6 fundamental principals behind Senior Housing Forum
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The Blog Publisher
My name is Steve Moran and I publish Senior Housing Forum. I live in the Sacramento, California area.
I stumbled into senior housing in the 1980′s shortly after graduating from college. I have developed and operated a number of assisted living communities and multiple levels of care campuses.
I took a 10 year detour into the world of high tech but returned to senior living in 2011.
In addition to publishing Senior Housing Forum I am an account manager for Vigil Health Solutions where we provide the finest emergency call systems for independent living, assisted living, skilled living and dementia units. (www.vigil.com)Steve
smoran@seniorhousingforum.net
