Precision Medicine and Genetics

The Forefront of Medicine

Precision medicine embraces the “this is right for you, personally” approach instead of a “one-size-fits-all” approach. This unique type of medicine focuses on healthcare, disease treatment and prevention by utilizing genomic information to guide a patient’s healthcare path.

Physicians at St. Elizabeth work closely with in-house genetic counselors to determine the appropriate testing. Those results are then used to tailor a patient’s healthcare choices, medication use or treatment plan to specifically fit their needs, oftentimes improving outcomes.

For example, in the past, patients with cancer would receive the “standard” treatment for their specific type of cancer – the tried-and-true protocol that has been in place for years or even decades. Precision medicine, however, allows the oncology team to tailor the cancer treatment to that patient’s specific genetic marker in their tumor.

Studies are ongoing with many of these molecular marker treatments, but early evidence is showing increased survival time by using precision medicine methodology. Currently, more than 75% of cancer treatments in development have a molecular marker to guide their use.

This powerful approach to medicine goes beyond cancer treatment, allowing healthcare providers to focus on preventative risk factors and early intervention in addition to disease treatment. The shift from reactive to proactive medicine is empowering for both physicians and their patients.

A commitment to genetic counseling

St. Elizabeth has always had a strong presence in genetics, establishing a genetic counseling program in 1999 and hereditary cancer risk testing in 2003. More than 14,000 patients from the Tri-state area and beyond have been referred through our genetic counseling program.

New developments and technology improvements in genetic testing have enabled our genetic counselors and specialists to provide risk assessment for hereditary cancer, cardiovascular disease, and many other inherited conditions. Starting in 2017, the program expanded to Proactive Genetic Health Screening for those looking to learn their risk of disease based on their DNA.