-- Industry expert John Zehr reveals that doctors—who currently write nearly 4 billion prescriptions per year—now have an alternative to the “one-size-fits-all” approach for prescribing medications.He recently shared how a simple oral swab can provide doctors with the genetic details they need in order to know which drugs will work for a patient and which can kill.
“Americans suffer 2,000,000 Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) and 100,000 people die each year from mis-prescription and drug interactions. That suffering can be avoided with a simple test that will guide the doctor to make the right drug choice the first time.
“No doctor wants to prescribe the wrong drug. Until now, they had to make educated guesses, based on the patient’s family history. This is a true breakthrough for doctors. The irony is that only 10% of doctors are currently using it, but that’s changing rapidly”, said Zehr.
The test, called a pharmacogenomic (PGx) test allows the doctor to peek inside the patient’s DNA to see how fast or slowly they metabolize drugs. “Everyone is different”, said Zehr. “The “educated guess” approach to prescribing drugs will soon be a thing of the past.”
“This is where we’re headed”, said Dr. Jeremy Hoff, pain management specialist. “From a patient effectiveness standpoint, it’s the next major breakthrough in medicine. The science is there, but the application is very provider-dependent”.
“It’s really very simple”, said Zehr. “Your DNA is unlike anyone else’s. Why use drugs your body can’t tolerate? With this test, the physician will have a “roadmap to your genes” so they can provide better care.” Doctors are very enthusiastic about this new technology because they can serve their patients more effectively and the test limits their liability from ADRs.
PGx testing is covered by many insurance policies. Felix Frueh, Associate Director of FDA calls personalized medicine “the science that allows us to predict a response to drugs based on an individuals’ complete genetic makeup.”
Leading U.S. medical facilities have now adopted phamacogenetic testing. They include Vanderbilt University Medical Centre, Johns Hopkins, Mayo Clinic, Duke Medical Centre, RCIVA Dallas (Cardiovascular & Interventional Vascular Associates), and HCA (Hospital Corporation of America)
“Let’s face it. Just like the rest of us, doctors are overwhelmed with information today”, said Zehr. “Keeping up with the latest medical news would be a full-time job. Only 10% of U.S. doctors know about PGx testing right now. It’s up to the public to create the demand for these proven, life-saving technologies.”
To learn how to become an advocate for PGx testing, visit www.PGxSolution.com.
Company Name: Ardent Marketing, LLC
Contact Name: John Zehr
City: Jackson
State: MS
Country: USA
Phone: 601-624-3456
Email: [email protected]
Website URL: http://www.PGxSolution.com
Release ID: 84709
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