WEDI Releases “Maximizing the Potential of Genomic Information to Improve Care Coordination and Health Outcomes” White Paper
RESTON, Va. (PRWEB) September 16, 2016 -- WEDI, the nation’s leading authority on the use of health IT to create efficiencies in healthcare information exchange, announced the development of an industry white paper, entitled “Maximizing the Potential of Genomic Information to Improve Care Coordination and Health Outcomes.” Written by the WEDI Genomics Workgroup, this paper explores how genomic information could optimize clinical genomics care coordination, including how genomic data can be leveraged to improve health and care at both individual and population levels.
According to the paper: “Genomic medicine offers the potential to greatly improve medical practice by tailoring the preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic care available to each patient. However, this potential depends on high-quality data that can be readily accessed and applied in the patient care setting. Although improvements to electronic health records (EHRs) have been made, much work remains to optimize their ability to support genomically informed care, and in turn, for genomic information to contribute to improvements in care coordination.”
The 17-page document examines a number of clinical situations and life stages during which genomic information is generated, how health care providers access and use that data, the infrastructure needed for effective use of the data and the financial drivers of genomic data use for improved health care. The intent of the document is to serve as a basis for others in the industry to expand upon the research and discussion on genomic care coordination by focusing on one or more of the areas presented in the white paper. Some key takeaways from the white paper conclusion include such points as:
• The presence of a broad set of genetic information for the health care community (patients, providers, payers and others) to access for shared decision support is no longer a promise, but a reality of the day in which we live.
• As both cost and access to testing barriers continue to be removed, now, more than ever, is the time for the industry to not only consider, but move aggressively toward a common standard for genetic information exchange.
• Supporting a common standard for all parties will allow for better access, more seamless integration and an informative position on infrastructure, architecture, and security requirements for housing data.
For more information on WEDI’s industry efforts surrounding genomic medicine, please visit the WEDI Genomics Workgroup page.
About WEDI
The Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI) is the leading authority on the use of health IT to improve healthcare information exchange in order to enhance the quality of care, improve efficiency, and reduce costs of our nation’s healthcare system. WEDI was formed in 1991 by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) and was designated in the 1996 HIPAA legislation as an advisor to HHS. WEDI’s membership includes a broad coalition of organizations, including: hospitals, providers, health plans, vendors, government agencies, consumers, not-for-profit organizations, and standards development organizations. To learn more, visit http://www.wedi.org.
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Jennifer Jennings, Anderson Interactive, on behalf of WEDI, +1 770-900-5456, [email protected]
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