Pediatrician uses pharmacogenomics to help patients

For many physicians, pharmacogenomics — the science of using a patient’s genetics to help customize medications — is a new concept. However, Sharon McManus, D.O., of Pediatric HealthCare in Sterling Heights, was introduced to the concept several years ago. And when Blue Care Network launched the Blue Cross Personalized Medicine℠ program, offering eligible BCN commercial and BCN Advantage℠ patients a free RightMed^® PGx test, she decided to use the program to help treat her eligible patients with BCN coverage.

Dr. McManus discusses her experience with PGx for pediatric patients in a recent article in BCN Provider News. She talks about the benefits of PGx, how it assists with care coordination, what patients think about it and what she sees as the future of PGx. She also talks about how her office handles authorizing the RightMed test, explaining it to patients and sharing results with specialists. To learn more, check out this article in BCN Provider News and also this column we ran in Hospital and Physician Update earlier this year.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofit corporations and independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.