Design and Early Implementation Successes and Challenges of a Pharmacogenetics Consult Clinic

Pharmacogenetic testing (PGT) is increasingly being used as a tool to guide clinical decisions. This article describes the development of an outpatient, pharmacist-led, pharmacogenetics consult clinic within internal medicine, its workflow, and early results, along with successes and challenges. A p...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Meghan J. Arwood, Eric A. Dietrich, Benjamin Q. Duong, D. Max Smith, Kelsey Cook, Amanda Elchynski, Eric I. Rosenberg, Katherine N. Huber, Ying L. Nagoshi, Ashleigh Wright, Jeffrey T. Budd, Neal P. Holland, Edlira Maska, Danielle Panna, Amanda R. Elsey, Larisa H. Cavallari, Kristin Wiisanen, Julie A. Johnson, John G. Gums
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-07-01
Series:Journal of Clinical Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/9/7/2274
Description
Summary:Pharmacogenetic testing (PGT) is increasingly being used as a tool to guide clinical decisions. This article describes the development of an outpatient, pharmacist-led, pharmacogenetics consult clinic within internal medicine, its workflow, and early results, along with successes and challenges. A pharmacogenetics-trained pharmacist encouraged primary care physicians (PCPs) to refer patients who were experiencing side effects/ineffectiveness from certain antidepressants, opioids, and/or proton pump inhibitors. In clinic, the pharmacist confirmed the need for and ordered <i>CYP2C19</i> and/or <i>CYP2D6</i> testing, provided evidence-based pharmacogenetic recommendations to PCPs, and educated PCPs and patients on the results. Operational and clinical metrics were analyzed. In two years, 91 referred patients were seen in clinic (mean age 57, 67% women, 91% European-American). Of patients who received PGT, 77% had at least one CYP2C19<i> </i>and/or CYP2D6<i> </i>phenotype that would make conventional prescribing unfavorable. Recommendations suggested that physicians change a medication/dose for 59% of patients; excluding two patients lost to follow-up, 87% of recommendations were accepted. Challenges included PGT reimbursement and referral maintenance. High frequency of actionable results suggests physician education on who to refer was successful and illustrates the potential to reduce trial-and-error prescribing. High recommendation acceptance rate demonstrates the pharmacist’s effectiveness in providing genotype-guided recommendations, emphasizing a successful pharmacist–physician collaboration.
ISSN:2077-0383