Models of Care Toolkit

There are three visuals on this graphic. The first is of a gene, the second icon is of a tree, and the third icon is of a woman doing a yoga pose. Below the three images there is text that reads precision medicinePrecision medicine

Precision medicine, also known as personalized medicine, is an innovative approach that uses a person’s genes, environment and lifestyle to guide medical decisions. In the cancer system, precision medicine presents an opportunity to design treatments specifically for an individual which may be more efficient than general treatment regimens.

Clinical pharmacists can play a key role in supporting oncologists to develop targeted treatment and educating patients on their specific treatment protocol.
As precision medicine becomes more common in cancer treatment, pharmacy education will need to evolve to prepare pharmacists to interpret genomic tests and develop targeted therapies.

Clinical pharmacy plays a key role in Indiana University’s Simon Cancer Centre’s Precision Genomics Program. The program receives 15 to 20 referrals a week for patients who need tumours to be genetically sequenced. Eighty-three percent of patients referred to the program receive genomic-directed recommendations and proceed to new treatments or clinical trials.

Indiana’s comprehensive program includes oncologists, scientists, nurses, genetic counsellors, an oncology pharmacy specialist and two oncology pharmacy residents. The oncology pharmacist is involved across the patient continuum of care. They collaborate with oncologists and scientists to interpret genetic sequencing and provide treatment recommendations, educate patients on the results of sequencing and the potential treatments, and procure off-label medications.

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