Orlando VA Healthcare System Introduces Pharmacogenomic Testing for Veterans

This groundbreaking service, offered through the National Pharmacogenomics program (NPP) or Pharmacogenomic Testing for Veterans (PHASER) program, leverages genetic information to optimize medications prescribed for individual patients, ensuring safer and more effective treatments.

Pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing analyzes how a patient’s genes affect their response to medications. Given the genetic variations among individuals, this testing helps predict which medications will be most effective and safe for each patient. This personalized approach to medicine is a significant advancement in enhancing the quality of care for Veterans.

Air Force Veteran, Roland R. Medeiros, shared how he learned about this new service: “My clinical pharmacist told me it may help pick what medication would work best for me.”

Veterans are now eligible for a no-cost blood test through December 2024, which will provide crucial insights into how their bodies metabolize different medications. This testing screens for more than 60 of the most used medications, guiding healthcare providers in prescribing the right medication, at the right dose, from the outset. Pharmacogenomic testing minimizes trial and error, reduces adverse drug reactions, and improves overall treatment outcomes.

Medeiros expressed his interest in the program, stating: “I’m interested because I have Native American blood in me, and I thought this would make a difference in my genetic profile.”

Dr. Jacqueline Kill, Chief of Pharmacy at OVAHCS, emphasized the clinical impact of this new service: “Pharmacogenomic testing is an important clinical tool that allows us to tailor medication therapies based on the individual genetic profile of each Veteran. This means we can provide more precise and effective treatments from the start as well as explain why Veterans might not have responded to past medications.”

Medeiros is optimistic about how pharmacogenomic testing could impact his medication management: “Hopefully it will decrease the risk for drug interactions going forward.”

Pharmacogenomics is a one-time lab test which offers a lifetime of benefits by ensuring that medication therapies are as effective and safe as possible. Veterans interested in PGx testing should contact their VA provider.

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