Defining the future of personalized care with genomics

May 17, 2021

Providence Marketing

This keynote address was originally presented at the Illumina company meeting on 2/2/2021.

[4 MIN READ | 21 MIN WATCH]

Genomics is redefining the concept of personalized care, but what is it and why is it important?

Genomics is a field of medicine that seeks to uncover the unique genetic makeup of individuals to better understand and predict genetic risk factors that could lead to cancer, heart conditions or other preventable diseases. Using gene sequencing, clinical experts are able to identify, test, and study biomarkers to personalize patient care, medications and treatments.

In this presentation, Dr. Amy Compton-Phillips, Chief Clinical Officer at Providence, unpacks the impact that genomics can have on patient outcomes. Dr. Phillips also highlights how Providence is investing in genomics as a means of transforming clinical care. In her words, “genomics is the future of health.”

You can watch the full presentation below or scroll down to read the highlights.

Key take aways

Health 2.0

This is a data-driven approach to patient-centric, personalized health care as we evolve away from geographically bound infrastructure constructs to healthcare. Regardless of where a patient lives, they can get access to personalized, quality care that’s affordable.

Genomics @ Providence

Reimagining patient care using genomics is an evolutionary process. Providence is using genomics as a way to change how care is delivered. Focusing on gene alterations that increase a patient’s risk for disease allows doctors to identify potential for diseases earlier and provide patients with a personalized preventative treatment plan or treat the disease before it evolves. Below are some important ways that Providence is using genomics to transform healthcare:

Identify biomarkers: these serve as the foundation to understanding the unique qualities of each patient at the DNA level.
Patient data at scale: aggregated patient insights enable clinicians to both understand patients at a deeper level and further stratify care.
Precision treatments: a targeted approach to patient care using next-generation gene sequencing to create therapies, medication recommendations and treatment plans individualized to a given patients’ genetic biomarkers.
Business models: personalized care requires health systems to rethink the business of medicine – from reimbursement to modalities of care to patient-doctor engagements.

DYK that only 1 in 4 patients are helped by medications prescribed today?

The P4 medicinal approach

Coined by Dr. Lee Hood, the Chief Science Officer at Providence, the P4 approach intends to make the practice of medicine Personalized, Participatory, Preventative, and Predictive. This is a holistic approach to targeted therapies and treatments.

Population health -> Personalized Health

AI and machine learning enable clinicians to turn big data into insights and personalized health on an individual level. Insights gleaned from understanding the health of populations gives doctors the opportunity to deliver targeted treatments to individual patients.

Transforming clinical care

Disrupting the status quo and making care more personal requires an investment in people, processes and tools.

1.People: Help more doctors and care teams understand the importance of genomics.

2.Process: Standardize genomics as a critical component to guide each patients’ care journey.

3.Tools: Invest in the tools like artificial intelligence to make it easy for clinicians to turn genomics research into insights and actions.

Oncology leading the way

The Providence Molecular Genomics lab in Oregon is helping to identify breakthrough treatments for cancer. 90% of cancer therapies are centered around genomics leading to more personalized methods to address various types of cancer.

DYK clinicians can sequence your genes with saliva or blood?

Genomics for all

Providence believes health is a human right, and every patient should have equal access to genetic health insights and personalized disease prevention and treatment. One example of how Providence is using genomics to make healthcare more equitable is a study called Geno4ME.

With the goal of enrolling 5,000 patients in 2021 for no-cost genetic testing for cancer and heart diseases, as well as genetic response to common medications, Providence will create a unique medical portrait of each patient in the study and use these population health insights to deliver personalized care at the individual level.