The Ohio-based leading regional provider of healthcare services will use genetic testing to help the people it serves achieve improved pain management and behavioral health outcomes.
DUBLIN, Ohio (June 10, 2014) –ViaQuest, Inc. announced today that it is expanding its innovative personalized medicine program for the more effective use of prescription medications to include patients who have ongoing pain management and behavioral health needs.
As part of the initiative, individuals in the ViaQuest Hospice or Home Health programs in Ohio will be eligible to receive a simple genetic test, the results of which will enable physicians to determine which pain or behavioral medications should be administered in the correct dosages and time frames to best meet the individual needs of each patient. Although the genetic testing program initially will be available in ViaQuest’s Ohio locations, the healthcare provider intends to expand it to the ViaQuest Indiana and Pennsylvania locations in the near future.
The personalized medicine program is a form of what is known in the healthcare industry as pharmacogenetics, which is the practice of using genetic profiles, combined with data such as physical and environmental characteristics, to more accurately prescribe the medication that works best for that individual. It incorporates the study of how genes affect the human response to drugs.
Earlier this year, ViaQuest became the first hospice provider in Ohio to provide a pharmacogenetics pain management program for its patients. Now, the company is expanding pain management to other healthcare programs it provides and is incorporating a behavioral health medication component.
“We are proud to be a pioneer of our industry and are committed to finding creative and innovative solutions to improve quality of life for our patients,” said Kathy Richard, chief clinical officer of ViaQuest and a nationally recognized leader for her work in pharmacogenetics. “ViaQuest’s mission is to set the standard for quality through highly-personalized, cost-effective health care.”
Helping to take the guesswork out of dosages and combinations of prescriptions, pharmacogenetic testing enables physicians to tailor a personalized treatment plan based on the genetics of each individual, increasing the likelihood of effective outcomes while diminishing possible side effects.
“Genetic makeup accounts for 20 to 95 percent of the variability of a drug’s effect,” Richard said. “With a simple mouth swab, the metabolism and ability to process specific medications are assessed to determine the efficacy of a medication for an individual. Currently the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends genetic testing on 122 prescribed medications.”
ViaQuest will collect data over the next three years to gain insights into the effectiveness of its program. Richard expects the data will show improved clinical outcomes, increased medication compliance, lower hospitalization and readmission rates and a significant cost savings related to decreased adverse drug reactions and current ineffective drug therapy.
ViaQuest partners with PGXL Laboratories in providing pharmacogenetic testing. Based in Louisville, Ky., the internationally-recognized company is the first independent lab to be certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to conduct the testing.
About ViaQuest
ViaQuest, Inc. is a healthcare company that believes strongly in choice for its employees and the people it serves. Its areas of expertise include home health and hospice, mental and behavioral health, and developmental disabilities. ViaQuest offers quality, highly-personalized, specialized and cost-effective care, empowering individuals to function independently and live their best possible lives. Through a wide range of innovative services referred to as ViaQuest’s Circle of Care, a skilled, dedicated staff ensures that the people served are active participants in their own care. The company is based in Dublin, Ohio. For more information, call ViaQuest at 800-645-3267 or visit www.ViaQuestInc.com.
