Vita Advisors | Personalized Medicine

2011 Potpourri XXXV

by Kevin Roche on Friday, September 9, 2011

Fall looms and brings the football season. Our Potpourri scores with nutritious bites of health information, including getting more genetic data into medical records, giving doctors price lists, the value of HIEs, reducing hospital costs, medication continuation after hospitalization and use of episode-based payments.

Tags: Genomics, Health Care Costs, HIT, Hospital, Personalized Medicine, Physicians, Reimbursement

Pharmacogenomics and the FDA

by Kevin Roche on Thursday, March 31, 2011

The FDA issues a draft guidance on the use of clinical pharmacogenomics, in particular the gathering of relevant pharmacogenomic data in early drug development studies.

Tags: Drugs, FDA, Personalized Medicine

2011 Potpourri VIII

by Kevin Roche on Friday, February 18, 2011

The year wears on, winter hopefully draws to a close, and our Potpourri provides nutritious sustenance, this week featuring comparative effectiveness research and personalized medicine, two surveys on hospital progress in implementing EHRs, a patient-centered vision of HIT, the validity of care guidelines, and the use of clinical decision support to control inappropriate imaging.

Tags: Comparative Effectiveness, Consumers, Health Care Quality, HIT, Hospital, Medical Care, Personalized Medicine

Research on Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing

by Kevin Roche on Wednesday, February 16, 2011

One interesting aspect of personalized medicine is the widespread ability of consumers to purchase somewhat inexpensive genome wide scanning for disease risk. New research evaluating the potential benefits or harms of these DTC tests finds not much impact either way.

Tags: Consumers, Personalized Medicine

Genomics and the DOD

by Kevin Roche on Thursday, February 3, 2011

Personalized medicine has taken somewhat of a back burner in the wake of reform, but the science continues to evolve. An interesting report looks at how the Department of Defense might be able to use genetic information, particularly as it becomes much less expensive to acquire.

Tags: Personalized Medicine

Personalized Medicine Reimbursement

by Kevin Roche on Friday, December 10, 2010

Personalized medicine sometimes gets lost in the debate over other major health care issues, but it is probably the single most significant development in the actual delivery of medical care and will be so for the next decade. A new report details reimbursement hurdles to growth of the field.

Tags: Care Management, Genomics, Personalized Medicine, Regulation

2010 Potpourri XXXVI

by Kevin Roche on Saturday, October 2, 2010

The days shorten but the potpourri stays strong, this week including information on the safety of FDA-cleared devices; medication adherence; genetic tests; the FDA and CMS working together to review products; state all-payer databases and the increasing control of physician practices by hospital systems.

Tags: Care Management, Devices, Drugs, Health Care Costs, HIT, Hospital, Medicare, Personalized Medicine, Physicians, Regulation

2010 Potpourri XXXI

by Kevin Roche on Saturday, August 28, 2010

Summer nears an end, but not our Potpourris. This one includes the costs of malpractice, an innovative provider error disclosure program, employer wellness paybacks, blood pressure medication issues, the cost of new technologies, provider pricing power and the mental health of Californians.

Tags: Care Management, Health Care Costs, Hospital, Malpractice, Personalized Medicine, Wellness and Prevention

GAO Report on Genetic Testing

by Kevin Roche on Thursday, August 12, 2010

Personalized medicine relies on genetic testing for much of its information. Direct-to-consumer genetic testing firms are widespread and a GAO report reveals that much of their work appears shoddy and their marketing deceptive. More regulation appears needed and on the way.

Tags: FDA, Personalized Medicine, Regulation

Regulation of Laboratories’ Molecular Diagnostic Tests

by Kevin Roche on Friday, July 2, 2010

A critical component of personalized medicine is various molecular diagnostic tests. AHRQ has issued a lengthy report on the state of these tests, examining their quality and clinical utility.

Tags: Government, Medical Care, Personalized Medicine, Regulation

2010 Potpourri XXII

by Kevin Roche on Saturday, June 19, 2010

Another weekend bonanza of health care items, including health insurance premium increases, genetic testing, remote patient monitoring, eye drug coverage by Medicare, emergency room use under the reform law and paying people to take their medicine.

Tags: Drugs, FDA, Health Insurance, Medical Care, Personalized Medicine, Telemedicine

2010 Potpourri XX

by Kevin Roche on Saturday, June 5, 2010

More health care nuggets for the weekend, including personalized medicine, health reform, health insurance premiums, telemedicine, and community health centers.

Tags: Health Care Reform, Health Insurance, HIT, Medicaid, Medical Care, Personalized Medicine, Telemedicine

Genetic Tests at Walgreens

by Kevin Roche on Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Direct-to-consumer genetic tests are becoming more prevalent. Pathway Genetics strikes a distribution deal with Walgreens, but draws FDA scrutiny over whether needed regulatory filings have been performed.

Tags: Personalized Medicine, Regulation

2010 Potpourri X

by Kevin Roche on Saturday, March 20, 2010

More weekend reading, in case spring hasn’t arrived where you are, covering personalized medicine, the OIG’s unheeded recommendations, robot surgery, hospital costs, venture funding and telemedicine.

Tags: Financings, fraud and abuse, Hospital, Personalized Medicine, Telemedicine

2010 Potpourri VI

by Kevin Roche on Saturday, February 20, 2010

Select from this menu of topics on health improvement incentives, genetic testing for cancer treatment, health plan collaboration on use of IT for administration, value-based insurance design and comparative effectiveness research.

Tags: Comparative Effectiveness, Health Insurance, HIT, Personalized Medicine

CDC Looking To Set Up New Genomics Center

by Kevin Roche on Thursday, February 18, 2010

Personalized medicine is widely promoted as the future of health care. Several government agencies are examining the implications of growth in genomic knowledge and its application to medical practice. CDC and NIH are intending to create a Genomics Knowledge Synthesis Center.

Tags: Government, Personalized Medicine

Medco Acquires DNA Direct

by Kevin Roche on Thursday, February 11, 2010

Medco’s acquisition of DNA Direct, a genetic testing management company, may be a reaction to an earlier CVS Caremark transaction, but is also a recognition of the looming flood of genomic information and products that will usher in the era of personalized medicine.

Tags: Care Management, M&A, Personalized Medicine

2010 Potpourri IV

by Kevin Roche on Saturday, February 6, 2010

Yet another sampling of health care items, relating to personalized medicine, telemedicine, wellness, disease management and using health data for comparative effectiveness research.

Tags: Care Management, Comparative Effectiveness, Personalized Medicine, Telemedicine, Wellness and Prevention

2010 Potpourri III

by Kevin Roche on Saturday, January 23, 2010

Healthy health care snacks–concierge medicine, personalized medicine, health care hiring, electronic medical records, Medicaid, disease management–all for your reading pleasure on the weekend.

Tags: Care Management, Chronic Disease, Disease Management, HIT, Medical Care, Personalized Medicine, Physician Practice Models, Physicians

2010 Potpourri 2

by Kevin Roche on Saturday, January 16, 2010

Another collection of health care tidbits, a little telemedicine, a little reform, a little on medical care, a little personalized medicine and a smidgen of physician happiness.

Tags: Health Care Reform, Personalized Medicine, Physicians, Telemedicine

2010 Potpourri I

by Kevin Roche on Saturday, January 9, 2010

The tort lawyer lobby errand boys in Congress just don’t know when to stop. Even after Senator Rockefeller got his hand slapped for questioning CBOs analysis of potential savings from tort reform, Congressman Bruce Baley decided to go back for more. And sure enough, CBO gave him an even more detailed justification of the savings [...]

Tags: Health Care Costs, Health Insurance, Malpractice, Medicare, Personalized Medicine, Telemedicine

New Report On Personalized Medicine

by Kevin Roche on Wednesday, December 30, 2009

PWC examines the future market for personalized medicine and services, which it defines broadly as including not only genomics, but wellness and prevention services tailored toward the individual. PWC foresees many entrants into and significant growth for this market.

Tags: Personalized Medicine

Christmas Potpourri

by Kevin Roche on Friday, December 25, 2009

Happy Holidays, here are a few health care presents for your tree, including defensive medicine, FDA regulation of drug/diagnostic combinations, virtual doctor visits, generic drugs and wireless health. Have a great Christmas.

Tags: Drugs, Medical Care, Personalized Medicine, Wireless

Genetic Testing Overview

by Kevin Roche on Wednesday, December 23, 2009

AHRQ released its annual update of the genetic testing landscape, identifying new tests and discussing trends in this segment, which is at the forefront of personalized medicine.

Tags: Diagnostics, Personalized Medicine

Weekend Potpourri VIII

by Kevin Roche on Saturday, December 19, 2009

More health care snippets, including hospital costs, wireless health in 2009, genetic testing, caring for the elderly and pay-for-performance programs. Bon Apetit!

Tags: Care Management, Pay For Performance, Personalized Medicine, Wireless

Weekend Potpourri III

by Kevin Roche on Saturday, November 7, 2009

Yet another installment of the weekend health care miscellany that you are undoubtedly growing fond of.

Tags: Comparative Effectiveness, Health Care Reform, Medical Care, Personalized Medicine

Comparative Effectiveness and Personalized Medicine

by Kevin Roche on Tuesday, November 3, 2009

The Lewin Group has issued a report on comparative effectiveness research and personalized medicine, indicating the need for integration of the latter into the former.

Tags: Comparative Effectiveness, Medical Care, Personalized Medicine

Genetic Testing Needs Certainty to Be Accepted

by Kevin Roche on Friday, October 9, 2009

Several geneticists examine DTC genotyping and recommend some improvements.

Tags: Consumers, Genomics, Medical Care, Personalized Medicine

More Personalized Medicine

by Kevin Roche on Tuesday, September 29, 2009

In another personalized medicine development, researchers at UCLA have identified a way to improve depression treatment.

Tags: Drugs, Medical Care, Personalized Medicine, Pharmaceutical

Personalized Medicine and Anti-platelet Therapy

by Kevin Roche on Friday, August 28, 2009

Pharmacogenomics is at the forefront of personalized medicine development. Recent research indicates promise in anti-platelet therapy guidance.

Tags: Drugs, Genomics, Medical Care, Personalized Medicine, Pharmaceutical

“Cheap” Personal DNA Sequencing

by Kevin Roche on Thursday, June 11, 2009

Illumina has announced that for $48,000 a consumer can have their entire DNA sequenced