The Health Management Academy (THMA) and Helix partnered to hold our inaugural Genomics Summit. The purpose of this Summit was to convene Leading Health Systems (LHS) leaders to discuss key challenges and share insights and learnings from their efforts to build, implement, and scale genomics programs. While some LHS are still nascent in their genomics journey, they are interested in better understanding the genomics landscape and its role in building and enabling a precision health strategy. Here’s a brief recap of the key insights from those discussions:
1. Strong business rationale exists for Leading Health Systems to justify scaling a genomics program.
A common genomics discussion point is “what is the LHS business model to scale genomics.” While the clinical rationale has consistently been clear, the business model and rationale for genomics, particularly population-based genomics, has continued to evolve.
During our Inaugural Genomics Summit, LHS discussed multiple business models they used to get buy-in on an expanded, enterprise-wide genomics program. While diagnosis and treatment are the baseline, LHS are tying genomics programs to population health and health equity strategies to build a business case for genomics. AMCs have embraced both their clinical and research mandates to support faster scaling of genomics. And some LHS see investment in a genomics strategy as part of their growth diversification efforts.
2. Technology’s ability to simplify current testing challenges increases health systems’ use cases for genomics.
Genomics testing is currently an onerous process with slow turnaround times, limiting its potential use cases and ability to scale. Therefore, health systems have been slow in pushing forward expanded genomics strategies and integrating sequenced patient data with phenotypic data in a manner needed for true longitudinal precision.
Novel technologies that allow health systems to “sequence once, query often” can reframe genomics from a testing problem to a data problem and shift the focus towards comprehensive data management and analysis. The ability to query a genomics data set allows for more real-time clinical insights and decision making, thereby expanding the use cases for genomics from diagnostics to prognostics, prevention, and avoidance
3. To alleviate workforce shortages and ethical/legal risks, health systems would benefit from engaging the right stakeholders for better use of limited resources
Workforce shortages continue to be a challenge across many healthcare roles, and genomics is no exception. The shortage of genetic counselors, who provide guidance on testing and communicate implications of results to patients, can be a bottleneck. Ethical and legal risks are also key challenges in implementing genomic programs. If health systems have genomic data, what are they legally and ethically obligated to do?
With workforce shortages being an ongoing challenge, health systems may want to consider working with companies that can help them leverage technology and care pathways to accommodate an increasing demand for genetic counselors. We’ve seen health systems begin to incorporate their legal teams and medical ethicists into Steering Committees to proactively get in front of and address ethical and legal risks.