Genomics is improving patient care in a wide range of medical specialties. Its use is increasing, thanks to pioneering clinicians and a growing number of funded tests.
But it can be difficult for hospitals to ensure good genomic care is provided across the board, or that every patient who needs genomics can get it. If healthcare executives and clinicians had a shared, hospital-wide view of genomic care, then they could ensure it was safe, high quality and cost-effective.
That’s why we’ve developed a world-first toolkit to help your hospital move forward with human and pathogen genomics.
A toolkit for your hospital
Genomics and Your Hospital is a toolkit designed to support hospitals in implementing high-quality genomic care.
It can help your hospital ensure that:
- good decisions can be made about new types of care
- the practice of genomic medicine is evidence-based, safe and effective
- the workforce is appropriately skilled and qualified
- patients and families are at the heart of the service
You will find seven key actions that provide a strong foundation for any hospital. Each action has an accompanying tool.
Common genomics challenges for hospitals
A number of factors can make genomics seem challenging to implement. These can include the perceived complexity of genomics, challenges common to any emerging medical practice, resource and prioritisation challenges faced by any health service.
Challenges specific to genomics
- Innovation and research occur in multiple specialities, often in small cohorts
- High-technical language that is not always understood beyond practising clinicians
- Families can also be ‘patients’ in genomic care
- Datasets are large, complex and highly personal
Challenges common to emerging practice
- Rapidly updating and emerging evidence
- Specialised workforce requirements and sometimes a lack of clarity about education and training requirements
Challenges common to health services
- Financial challenges across the health system
- Lack of ‘bandwidth’ for non-urgent activity
When hospital executives and clinicians get together to work through these challenges, it becomes much easier to make good decisions about genomics.