The Benefits of Using Genomic Data For Health Systems And Patients

Genomic data is giving insights into just what will work for a particular patient. This precision medicine is being used in pharmacogenomics, oncology, and immunotherapy.

But widespread use requires reimbursement and getting to a scale in which genomic data is integrated across the health system and the patient's care journey.

On Tuesday, August 10, at 11 a.m. in the Venetian Murano 3204, Dr. Phillip Empey and Dr. Robert Bart will describe at the HIMSS21 annual conference how they're using genomic data in personalized oncology treatments and pharmacogenomics in "Genomic Data in Health Systems: The Importance of an Enterprise-Wide Strategy."

They'll also discuss the results of survey data from A Centers for Connected Medicine/HIMSS survey of informatics, genomics and IT leaders published in August 2020, which indicates near unanimous respondent focus on a genomic data management strategy.

For physicians and health systems that haven't yet started down the path of integrating genomic data, getting started shouldn't be too daunting, Bart said.  It's realistic that all organizations that want to offer genomic medicine can use the same approaches they'll describe.

Bart, chief medical information officer for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and Empey, associate professor of Pharmacy and Therapeutics in the School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, developed an interest in genomic, personalized care around the same time.