Today I read an interesting blog item making the case for including validated genomic test data in EMRs. The author argues that with the increasing relevance of genomic testing to treatment, it’s critical to offer clinicians access to such data.
As the author notes, some specialties have already begun to tailor drug treatments to individual patients based on their genomic profile. For example, DNA sequencing of tumors in non-Hodgkin’s and Mantle Cell lymphoma can lead to personalized cancer vaccines that can produce great results, notes writer Gerry Higgins of the NIH.
Such data can also be used for a growing number of clinical situations, such as tailoring Coumadin doses to specific patients and providing psychiatric patients with the appropriate drug.
However, EMRs currently don’t allow for integrating such data, Higgins notes. To do so, EMRs will need to accept unstructructed data and make it accessible for analysis via decision support tools.
Until clinicians demand such data, it’s not likely to become a standard part of EMRs. To date, while oncologists, pathologists and genetics experts are rapidly becoming aware of the value of these tests, the rest of the medical world is just catching up.
But over time, personalized medical treatments like these will become common. To support these treatments, EMR systems will need to incorporate the tools and the capabilities needed to build on genomic analysis. If Higgins is right, EMR vendors should get on this right away.
[…] Rourke, on my sister site EMR and EHR, wrote an interesting piece on Adding Genomic Info to the EMR. Here’s a short excerpt from the post. You should go and read the rest of the post as well. […]
[…] Rourke, on my sister site EMR and EHR, wrote an interesting piece on Adding Genomic Info to the EMR. Here’s a short excerpt from the post. You should go and read the rest of the post as well. […]
Hi Katherine,
Great post! What clinic’s/hospitals do you see leading the early efforts to incorporate genetic data as part of EMR’s (world wide)?
Also — we’re working on how to integrate genetic data into EMRs. Here’s a talk I gave at World DNA Day in China recently http://slidesha.re/mwHSzy “Solution for Managing Personal Genetic Data” In it I proposes genetic tests be given a rating for quality of science, medical utility and viewing risk so as to facilitate the flow of genetic information in a responsible manner from the lab to the physician and patient. The talk also explains how technology combined with public policy could enable both privacy and personalized medicine to thrive.
Thanks
Alice
Alice, thanks so much for the additional information!
Any interest in writing an article of your own expanding on what you’ve included in this post? I’m a researcher/editor, not an expert, so your commentary could be very valuable.
I’m hardly an expert – just a Founder of a start-up – http://www.dnaguide.com. Maybe after I get over the funding hurdle I’ll write more ;). In the meantime, let’s hope patients have the option to participate in the management of access to their health & genetic data with “real time consent” instead of just written consent. http://slidesha.re/mwHSzy
Thanks
Alice