When it comes to precision medicine, it is common for health systems to focus on discrete points in time and tests for a patient or disease type.
But the bigger issue is operationalizing genomic testing at scale – identifying more patients and the right tests for them across the cancer care continuum.
Scientific innovation can quickly outpace clinical adoption
Health systems strive to give patients the best test, the best treatment, the best care, and the best patient experience. But how do you deliver quality at scale when the best is always getting better?
The science of precision medicine and genomic testing is advancing constantly – and any delays in clinical adoption can have disastrous results.
Fragmented testing creates more administrative complexity and potential care deficiencies
An increase in diagnostic testing options allows more cancer patients to be evaluated for treatment—yet it may increase your administrative burden, put more pressure on the delivery of the highest quality cancer care, and adversely impact provider and patient satisfaction.
- Health systems may be receiving different test results from multiple labs, using varied technologies
- Managing this fragmented test data can be time-consuming and costly. Health systems leaders must weigh the complexity that comes with a diversity of tests, labs, and technologies with the efficiency of test standardization.
Maintaining an edge in a competitive precision medicine landscape can be challenging
A health system’s cost of care may depend on whether cancer patients choose them over competing health systems. Patients are likely to search far and wide for the best doctor, treatment, or care experience.
Health systems must look at treatment as part of a holistic individual cancer patient’s journey.