Genetic Testing Key to Advancing Precision Medicine Efforts

September 14, 2021 - The pandemic has revealed some harsh realities about health equity in the United States. And thanks to more analysis of relief funds, the hits keep on coming.

COVID-19 Relief Funds Failed to Help Neediest Hospitals

Congress allocated $178 billion to the Provider Relief Fund to help hospitals overcome the financial and operational challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. But the primary distribution method for the aid may have put some hospitals and communities in need at a disadvantage, according to a new study.

Some of the Provider Relief Fund payments correlated to “real-world need,” such as serving a community with a very high share of Black residents or having a very high ratio of Medicaid revenue to beds. The study found that hospitals with these characteristics tended to receive higher funding from the government during initial distributions from 2020 to 2021.

However, hospitals serving a very high shared of Hispanic residents or in a medically underserved area received decreased funding or there was no difference in funding amounts. READ MORE

Growing Importance of Genetic Testing to Precision Medicine

Due to genetics, not every patient responds the same to medications. With genetic testing, providers can better determine the best treatment options for individuals, advancing precision medicine.

Jacob Johnson, MD, a practicing otolaryngologist and president of San Francisco Otolaryngology, spoke with HealthITAnalytics about the importance of genetic testing in senior populations and the role associated with genetics in medication relations.

"The medications we take are primarily metabolized by our kidney and our liver. We have enzymes in our liver that metabolize these medications. And each of us is given a set of them, and they are genetically determined," Johnson said. READ MORE

Nurse Practitioners Key to Patient Satisfaction, Health Outcomes

Having more nurse practitioners as part of inpatient staff can help improve patient satisfaction while cutting healthcare costs and adverse outcomes, according to new data from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing.

Particularly, hospitals with inpatient nurse practitioner staff saw higher patient satisfaction scores, lower care costs, and lower surgical mortality. The study looked at key clinical quality metrics, including mortality rates, cost of care, and patient satisfaction, for over 1.4 million patients receiving care at one of 579 hospitals across the country.

“Our study shows that NPs in advanced clinical roles in inpatient care are a very valuable addition to excellent RN and physician care,” stated Regina Cunningham, PhD, RN, study co-author and chief executive officer of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. READ MORE

Eli Lilly’s Jardiance Linked to Reduced Risk of Heart Failure

Eli Lilly and Company recently announced that its prescription medicine, Jardiance, elicited a 21-percent relative risk reduction in death or hospitalization for heart failure patients compared to placebo.

The Phase 3 Emperor-Preserved trial enrolled 5,988 individuals with heart failure. Participants randomly received Jardiance 10 milligrams or placebo once daily. About 4,005 patients in the trial had a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 50 percent or more, and 1,983 had an LVEF below 50 percent.

Overall, Jardiance reduced the relative risk of first and recurrent hospitalizations for heart failure by 27 percent and substantially slowed kidney function decline. READ MORE

FQHCs Receive High Marks for Telemental Health Integration

With only about 10 percent of the nation’s federally qualified health centers (FQHC) having psychiatrists or licensed clinical psychologists on staff, a telehealth platform could improve access for millions of patients needing mental health or substance abuse care.

A five-year PCORI-funded study gave high marks to FQHCs who integrated telehealth with primary care services to help patients with bipolar disorder and/or PTSD. The study focused on two models of care, one linking the patient directly to specialists at the state medical school via telemedicine, and the other integrating telehealth with primary care services at an FQHC.

“The results of our trial showed that if you give access to high-quality care for patients who are underserved, they improve their quality of life,” said John Fortney, PhD, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington School of Medicine and lead researcher of the project. READ MORE

Anthem, Cleveland Clinic Team Up to Streamline Second Opinions

Anthem has partnered with The Clinic by Cleveland Clinic to improve members’ access to second opinions on their healthcare needs. Individuals with rare or complex conditions may seek out second opinions from providers, and these secondary opinions can have significant implications for patient outcomes.

The Clinic by Cleveland Clinic reported that nearly three out of every ten patients receive a changed diagnosis when they search for a second opinion. Approximately three-quarters of patients alter their treatment processes as a result of a second opinion.

Through its partnership with The Clinic, Anthem will offer large employer members the opportunity to access a second opinion online. The Cleveland Clinic has 3,500 providers available to offer second opinions on members’ health. READ MORE