NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – Geisinger Health System's Genomic Medicine Institute announced on Friday approval of a $1.4 million research award from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to study how best to share genomic results and information with patients.
The project will include scientists from Pennsylvania State University and Virginia Tech and will focus on optimal ways of sharing genomics results "to promote shared decision making." Marc Williams, director of the Genomic Medicine Institute, Geisinger's Sigfried and Janet Weis Center for Research, will lead the research.
As genomic information becomes more prevalent in the diagnosis and management of medical conditions, methods of sharing the information with patients is increasingly moving to the forefront, Geisinger said. The study being carried out will identify "how best to communicate genetic laboratory information, what part of the communication is of the greatest value to patients and clinicians, and how best to integrate the reporting into the day-to-day workflow at Geisinger in a way that is relevant and helpful," it added.
"We believe that a new type of genomic test report, tailored for patient as well as clinician use, promotes shared decision making and trust," Williams said in a statement. "It also allows patients to be more involved in the management of their disorders, better navigate the healthcare system, and make more informed decisions about their health and healthcare in conjunction with their clinicians."
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute is an independent, non-profit organization authorized by Congress in 2010 in order to fund research providing patients, their caregivers, and clinicians with evidence-based information that can be used for healthcare decisions.