TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--InformedDNA, the nation's largest independent provider of genetics expert services, expanded its Genetics Services Program™ into 14 major health systems over the past year. Select clients include University of California San Francisco’s (UCSF) Ophthalmology Retinal Degenerations Clinic and Dignity Health, Central Coast Service Area.
InformedDNA’s Genetics Services Program offers genetic counseling services to health systems and providers across all specialties for which genetic testing is relevant, such as oncology, ophthalmology, maternal and fetal medicine, pediatrics, and cardiology, among others. With limited access to genetic counselors in the United States, health systems look to companies like InformedDNA to provide counseling and utilization management services to overcome staffing shortages.
“Genetic testing continues to expand from 15 to 20 percent annually, which means the need for genetic counseling is also increasing,” said David Nixon, chairman and CEO, InformedDNA. “Hospitals and health systems are challenged to keep up with the growth rate. As a result, InformedDNA has been able to continue broadening its client base by helping to fill the void.”
As genetic testing continues to grow, health systems utilize genetic counselors to provide expert guidance to patients and providers on appropriate testing, implications of testing and test result interpretation. This expertise also helps to avoid unnecessary testing and, when relevant, to guide patients and providers to more appropriate tests based on medical evidence. InformedDNA provides its services through board-certified, master’s degree-level genetic counselors that can work with patients in all 50 states across all specialties.
Dignity Health, Central Coast Service Area, recently added InformedDNA’s oncology-related genetic counseling services to its Breast Imaging Center at Marian Regional Medical Center. UCSF Health partnered with InformedDNA to refer patients for ocular genetic counseling. With similar needs in mind, InformedDNA offers these facilities resources to address certification requirements, reduce inappropriate testing and ensure the best care for their patients.
“InformedDNA helps us meet all standards for COC and other accreditations while giving patients fast, efficient and convenient counseling,” said Liz Elliott, certified breast cancer nurse navigator, Dignity Health, Marian Regional Medical Center. “Since InformedDNA is independent from any lab and can cover our patients that are more than an hour away, we are able to provide services that are in the best interest of our patients under a well-run process, which makes both them and our providers happy.”
InformedDNA will continue expanding its services in 2018 to further its mission to counsel and advise on the appropriate use of genetic testing.
About InformedDNA
InformedDNA helps individuals and healthcare providers accurately interpret family health history and genomics, bringing the promise of precision medicine to life. InformedDNA is the authority on the appropriate use of genetic testing – leveraging the expertise of the largest full-time staff of independent board-certified genetics specialists to help ensure health plans, hospitals, employers, community clinicians and patients all have access to the highest quality genetic services. InformedDNA's key offerings include clinical genetic counseling, genetic testing utilization management, and personalized hereditary risk assessment and prevention solutions. For more information, visit InformedDNA.com.
