Unlocking the Benefits of Pharmacogenomic Testing: A Lifesaving Tool at Dole VA
By Dole VA Office of Communication Services
Did you know there are more than 20,000 prescription medications available in the United States alone?
With so many options, it's clear that not every medication will work for every person. It's not a one-size-fits-all situation—far from it. But what if there was a one-time test that could analyze your unique body chemistry and help find the most effective medication for your specific health needs? It might sound too good to be true, but it's not! Enter pharmacogenomic testing.
Pharmacogenomic testing involves a simple blood test that allows clinicians to see how certain medications respond to each individual patient. Every person’s genetic makeup is unique, and this testing can greatly reduce the negative side effects of medications that might not be compatible. The benefits can truly be lifesaving.
Recently, a Veteran at Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center experienced firsthand the benefits of pharmacogenetic testing. Dole VA’s cardiac catheterization lab team encourages Veterans to take this test before certain cardiac procedures. Many individuals need to be on a blood thinner after such procedures, like getting a cardiac stent. The wrong blood thinner might not effectively prevent clotting, which could block the stent and put the patient at risk of a heart attack.
Brittany Corona, an RN from the Dole VA cath lab team, was coordinating care with a Veteran who had undergone a procedure outside the VA. She followed up with the Veteran the same day as his procedure and realized he had been sent home with the incorrect medication. Thanks to her diligence and the information from the pharmacogenetic testing, she contacted a VA provider and coordinated the patient's care. The most effective blood thinner for that patient's genetic makeup was promptly administered. As a result, the patient avoided potential complications, showcasing the critical role of pharmacogenetic testing.
Pharmacogenomic testing provides a Veteran’s health care team with a genetic blueprint to personalize the treatment. This helps avoid the trial-and-error approach often associated with prescribing medications. It also avoids adverse drug reactions, resulting in better treatment outcomes.
The benefits of pharmacogenomic testing go beyond blood thinners. This testing can help personalize medications for mental health, pain, cardiology, oncology, inflammation, and infections, offering patients the best treatments possible.
Pharmacogenomic testing is available at Robert J. Dole VAMC at no cost to the Veteran. Ask a member of your VA health care team if this test is right for you!