{"id":751,"date":"2020-11-12T14:56:03","date_gmt":"2020-11-12T14:56:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.concert.co\/integrating-genetics-into-the-clinical-workflow\/"},"modified":"2024-04-18T21:03:01","modified_gmt":"2024-04-18T21:03:01","slug":"integrating-genetics-into-the-clinical-workflow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.concert.co\/blog\/integrating-genetics-into-the-clinical-workflow\/","title":{"rendered":"Integrating Genetics into the Clinical Workflow"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"body-md\">As mentioned in an earlier <a href=\"https:\/\/www.concertgenetics.com\/blog\/overcoming-the-challenges-of-genetic-test-identification-for-billing-reimbursement\/\">blog post<\/a>, the Genetic Health Information Network Summit convenes leading from voices across healthcare to share practical challenges and actionable solutions to enable precision medicine. An issue frequently discussed in past Summits (summarized <a href=\"https:\/\/www.geneticnetworksummit.com\/whitepaper\/\">here<\/a>) is the difficulty of integrating genetics into the clinical workflow.<\/p>\n<p class=\"body-md\">A dizzying array of genetic tests in the market creates challenges on many fronts. There are too many tests for clinicians\u2014many with limited training in genetics\u2014to navigate. The untrained eye could never hope to pick the right test at the right time. In addition, these tests lead to voluminous amounts of genetic data landing in healthcare systems unprepared to handle this information. As the volume of genetic tests flowing through a healthcare system rises, so does avoidable cost and unnecessary complexity. The result? Genetics, increasingly relevant across medical specialties, remains \u201cexceptionalized\u201d and isolated from the clinical workflow. This limits the potential of genomic medicine.<\/p>\n<p class=\"body-md\">With the goal of deeply understanding this problem and identifying practical solutions, Concert worked with fellow Summit organizers to host a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.geneticnetworksummit.com\/recording-integrating-genetics-into-the-clinical-workflow\/\">webinar<\/a> featuring leading experts. Summarized here are key observations from the event and updates about cross-stakeholder solutions emerging from events like it.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"h2\">Key Takeaways:<br \/>\nWhat is the state of the market today?<\/div>\n<p class=\"body-md\">Integrating genetics into the clinical workflow is a persistent problem, only deepening as testing technologies and collective understanding of disease have evolved. Key observations from the webinar include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p class=\"body-md\"><strong>The current healthcare information systems are simply not equipped for genetics.<\/strong> The systems of the past aren\u2019t good enough. They are not scalable to current genetic data volumes. Current systems do not allow discrete storage or sharing of evolving genetic data over a person\u2019s lifetime, flagged when needed at the point of care.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"body-md\"><strong>Solutions to integrate genetics need to address limitations in understanding, logistical support, and reimbursement for genetic testing.<\/strong> Solutions cannot be built in isolation and are multi-pronged. They require collaboration from all partners, such as information technology developers, hospitals, and payers.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"body-md\"><strong>Stakeholders still need help to understand genetics and its dynamic nature.<\/strong> Most healthcare system stakeholders have limited training in genetics, and thus a limited understanding of it. Clinicians cannot be expected to utilize genetic testing in the clinical workflow if they do not recognize the value of genetics, why genetic data changes over time, and why accepting some level of uncertainty (e.g., when a variant of unknown significance returns on a test result) ) is necessary to bring change. Educational tools focusing on these concepts are still needed.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"body-md\"><strong>A technology infrastructure to support genetic data requires flexibility.<\/strong> Current rigid healthcare systems do not suit the evolving nature of genetic data. One-size-fits-all doesn\u2019t work for precision medicine. An infrastructure must allow for data to be managed and enriched over time, with interoperability and mutually understood sharing standards. Clinicians, laboratories, hospitals, and payers, need to trust that the system they use will appropriately store and shepherd genetic data over time.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"body-md\"><strong>Genetic testing needs to be normalized and not treated as \u201cexceptional.\u201d<\/strong> As more genetic underpinnings of disease are understood, genetic tests are becoming relevant across medical specialties. Genetic tests can no longer be kept under lock-and-key, a practice in some healthcare systems that has historical rationale. All this does is force inefficient workarounds on those who need to access and get results from these tests.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"body-md\"><strong>It\u2019s not all bad news. Some areas of genetics are being integrated into the clinical workflow.<\/strong> In some (mostly isolated) cases, the test ordering, resulting, and even interpretation support are built directly into the clinician\u2019s workflow. This is generally happening in specialized clinical settings, such as certain oncology practices or in advanced academic settings. While these may not be scalable solutions, they do represent examples from which to learn.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"body-md\"><strong>It may take a federated approach to solve this problem, including patients and families.<\/strong> Genetic data must be shared between countries to further genomic medicine for all. Doing this requires mutual standards for data sharing, interoperability, and engagement from patients and families, many of whom are more than willing to help. There is a case for strategic investment at multiple levels\u2014healthcare system, payer, country.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"body-md\">A complete recording of the webinar can be found <a href=\"https:\/\/www.geneticnetworksummit.com\/recording-integrating-genetics-into-the-clinical-workflow\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"body-md\">These are complex challenges that no one organization can solve alone. The intent of Summit events is to inform solutions that foster cross-stakeholder collaboration. One such solution, the Concert Platform, may be of interest in the context of this conversation.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"h2\">A practical solution for test order management<\/div>\n<p class=\"body-md\">Healthcare system stakeholders need a solution to appropriately engage with genetic testing and, by doing so, further genomic medicine. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.concertgenetics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/The-Concert-Platform-Product-Sheet.pdf\">The Concert Platform<\/a> is a cloud-based software application that integrates test selection, results retrieval, and the insurance workflow. Leading health systems use the platform to manage genetic test orders and results, generally with favorable review (the platform has historically received a Net Promoter Score of +60).<\/p>\n<p class=\"body-md\">The Concert Platform reduces the complexity of test ordering and simplifies the insurance workflow. It addresses many challenges, shown below:<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table class=\"pp\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p class=\"body-md\"><b>Challenge<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p class=\"body-md\"><strong>Concert Platform Solution<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p class=\"body-md\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Too many tests and labs to track, and as a result, too many orderable units to load into the electronic health record (EHR) compendium<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p class=\"body-md\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Concert maintains a standard compendium organized by clinical category (150-200 most commonly ordered tests) so clinicians can better find a test they want to order. This is distilled from a master catalog of more than 150,000 testing products.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p class=\"body-md\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Data and users siloed by different information systems; genetic testing often further walled-off within these<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p class=\"body-md\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The platform integrates into existing healthcare systems. It works as a one-to-many interface hub, connecting multiple EHRs (using HL7 messaging standards) to exchange test orders and results digitally.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p class=\"body-md\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Complicated, time-consuming, and highly manual clinical workflow<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p class=\"body-md\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A logical workflow adapted for the unique realities of genetic test ordering. For example, when a clinician orders a test in the EMR, a new test order is generated according to the formulary and preferred reference lab.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p class=\"body-md\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Waste and inappropriate use of genetic testing<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p class=\"body-md\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Appropriateness and financial stewardship exist at the right moments in the workflow. Internal review enables a genetics expert to review the order for clinical appropriateness, update as needed, and send the order digitally to the lab. The platform tracks the stewardship impact.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p class=\"body-md\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Current EHRs often do not accommodate genetic testing<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p class=\"body-md\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Concert Platform interface is clear, intuitive, and accessible. Results return as a digital transmission from reference lab information systems, including the PDF report. In some cases, more detailed genetic information is also included.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"h2\"><strong>What This Means for Healthcare System Stakeholders<\/strong><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"body-lg s3\"><strong>Clinicians &amp; Hospitals<\/strong><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p class=\"body-md\">Streamline and digitize genetic test ordering and results retrieval<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"body-md\">Reduce the cost of testing<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"body-md\">Simplify insurance and prior authorization workflow<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"s3\"><strong>Laboratories<\/strong><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p class=\"body-md\">Ensure the test catalog is accurate and updated<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"body-md\">Interface with many systems through a single hub<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"body-md\">Position the lab at the point of care<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"s3\"><strong>Health Plans<\/strong><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p class=\"body-md\">Greater confidence in the appropriateness of testing<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"body-md\">Fewer duplicate tests due to better integration and storage or results<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"body-md\">No solution is perfect for all scenarios, and more work remains to implement and integrate market-wide solutions. But the hope of the Concert team, in both helping organize the Summit and developing solutions like the Concert Platform, is that the rate at which high-quality and high-value precision medicine is delivered through the U.S. healthcare system will continue to accelerate.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"h2\">Looking forward<\/div>\n<p class=\"body-md\">Integrating genetics into the clinical workflow is a complex and evolving issue. Solutions require a multi-pronged lens and approach, with collaborations across groups to build mutual understanding, priorities, and action. Healthcare systems and their users weren\u2019t designed for the vast, dynamic nature of genetic data to fit into them. Only when these can be systematically organized, connected, and integrated into existing systems can valuable insights be gained to bring transparency and improve patient outcomes through genomic medicine.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"h2\">More resources<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p class=\"body-md\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.geneticnetworksummit.com\/recording-integrating-genetics-into-the-clinical-workflow\/\">Recording<\/a> of the webinar, \u201cIntegrating Genetics into the Clinical Workflow\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"body-md\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.geneticnetworksummit.com\/whitepaper\/\">Whitepapers<\/a> summarizing previous Genetic Health Information Network Summits<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"body-md\">Concert Platform: Access the free <a href=\"https:\/\/app.concertgenetics.com\/apps\/login\/#\/\">genetic test search<\/a> features and learn more about the software\u2019s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.concertgenetics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/The-Concert-Platform-Product-Sheet.pdf\">capabilities<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"body-md\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5987210\/\">Genetic test availability and spending<\/a>: Where are we now? Where are we going? Health Affairs, Phillips KA, et al. 2018<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As mentioned in an earlier blog post, the Genetic Health Information Network Summit convenes leading from voices across healthcare to share practical challenges and actionable [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,15,13,11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-751","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-clinicians","category-hospitals","category-labs","category-other"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Integrating Genetics into the Clinical Workflow - Concert<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.concert.co\/blog\/integrating-genetics-into-the-clinical-workflow\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Integrating Genetics into the Clinical Workflow - 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