New Orleans-based Ochsner Health System announced on Oct. 18 a pilot program in partnership with genomics company Color to integrate genomic insights into standard clinical care.
The all-digital population health program was developed by the health system's innovation lab, innovationOchsner. It will combine Color's clinical genetic services and patient engagement with Ochsner's mission to act upon and scale precision health insights.
Patients participating in the program will receive an at-home DNA test to screen for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, Lynch syndrome and familial hypercholesterolemia. The results will be added to their EHRs and will guide future treatment at Ochsner, in the hopes that early detection and prevention efforts will reduce patients' risk of disease.
"Most consumers have access to home genetic screening tests but may not have the tools, resources and collaboration needed to take action should they receive questionable results," said Richard Milani, MD, Ochsner's chief clinical transformation officer and medical director of the innovation lab. "Integrating this information into the patient's EHR so your doctor can review the results and discuss proactive treatment recommendations is yet another example of how we are reengineering care, informing smarter decisions by healthcare providers and empowering patients to become more involved in their health."