Pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing is a critical tool for helping physicians make better individualized prescribing decisions. Our data-driven programmatic approach identifies patients who have been approved for an upcoming surgery.
More than 90% of the US population has at least one genetic variation that affects response to medication. * The same medication dose may be effective for one person, have no effect for another and may cause harm to a third person.
*Source: National Center for Biotechnology Information
FourStone Health offers clinically actionable pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing to determine how individuals will uniquely respond to medications. This is an area of precision medicine that replaces the antiquated trial-and-error approach while improving care, reducing polypharmacy, and lowering pharmacy costs.
FourStone’s pharmacogenomic test is a tool that enables providers to prescribe the right medication at the right dose for the right patient. Each person’s specific genetic makeup determines how they will process various medications. The test also identifies medications that may be harmful and should be avoided.
Until now, it has been impossible to do anything more than make an educated guess about what medications will be most effective for any individual patient. We believe an individual should know how they will react to a medication BEFORE they take it.
Precision medicine is the new standard of care. It is the future of medicine—a future that is available here and now. FourStone Health has brought the future into the present for the Workers’ Compensation industry.
What is Pharmacogenomic (PGx) Testing?
Pharmacogenomics combines the science of how drugs work (pharmacology) with the science of the human genome (genomics). It is a well-established, evidence-based decision-support tool that helps providers reduce adverse outcomes from commonly prescribed medications leading to fewer complications and increased medication efficacy. Since genetics do not change over time, this test is valid for the patient’s entire life.
What does the test report?
- The most safe and effective medications for your patient
- The appropriate medication dosage levels for optimal efficacy
- Medications to avoid because they may be ineffective, harmful (causing Adverse Drug Reactions), or potentially life threatening for the individual, even at a normal recommended dosage
- Drug-Drug interactions show how drugs will interact with each other and whether these interactions will reduce drug efficacy or cause harmful side effects
What does the test entail?
Our specimen collections process is quick and easy. Our test kit includes a buccal swab to rub the inside of the patient’s cheek. The swabs and signed forms are then enclosed in the prepaid return envelope, and shipped to our lab for processing.
Who currently uses PGx testing?
Pharmacogenomics is already a part of routine clinical care in the areas of Pain Management, Behavioral Health, Cardiology, and Oncology. The FDA has updated the label on more than 250 medications to include pharmacogenomic information, and this list continues to grow.
