The Good, The Bad and the Ugly
-Cami McKinney, RN
“I can honestly say that the goals of pharmacogenomics can be realized and implemented effectively in an LTC community, because I’ve experienced it”
As a Corporate Quality Assurance nurse for an LTC Company, I see all kinds of great ideas and programs that promise benefits to my facilities and our residents. I evaluate most of them and then work with various companies to assist us in bringing the programs that add value to our communities.
One such program I saw a presentation on was Pharmacogenetic testing for LTC Communities. I began researching and saw great promise for the testing, but had no idea how to implement, the cost, or who to partner with at the time.
With the physician onboard, we did a small sample testing of five (5) residents who we thought test results would help us see what might be improved with the medication regimens. I will not mention the name of the lab or the representative in this article, but I can sum up our experience in one simple term: Disastrous.
We had issues with the specimen collection, getting results, and follow-up assistance with interpretations after the testing. Needless to say, I was very jaded to the idea of expanded testing and shelved the program for about 9 months.
Then I met Clay Bullard with PGx Medical at a conference where he was speaking. I was very skeptical to hear another pitch on pharmacogenetic testing, as you might imagine. However, I learned PGx Medical is not the lab, they partner with the community to assist in gathering information to properly and effectively implement a pharmacogenomics program.
So, I decided to partner with PGx Medical to implement their pharmacogenetic program and gave them a very tight deadline, with a long list of “to do’s” for one of my communities. To my great satisfaction, they delivered on time, met all my expectations, and then some. I have continued to engage PGx Medical with our pharmacy consultants, our EHR and training implementation now that we have test results.
I can honestly say that the goals of pharmacogenomics can be realized and implemented effectively in an LTC community, because I’ve experienced it. It is a valuable tool and it will be a quality program we continue to utilize on all of our current and future residents.
PGx Medical helped us implement this program and is a great resource and partner to LTC communities across the country. Their pharmacogenetics program helped us enhance our med management, falls and dementia programs. It also helped with compliance issues related to anti-psychotropic meds and overall unnecessary medication reduction.
For more information on pharmacogenetics, contact PGx Medical, info@pgxmed.com or 405-509-5112