Pennsylvania-based Geisinger Health soon will expand its genomics program from research into part of preventative care for patients, Geisinger President David Feinberg, MD, told HLTH Conference attendees on Sunday.For the next six months, Geisinger will enroll 1,000 patients into a pilot program that will recommend DNA sequencing as part of routine care. In the future, the health system plans to provide DNA sequencing across its entire New Jersey and Pennsylvania branches.”Understanding the genome warning signals of every patient will be an essential part of wellness planning and health management,” said Feinberg. “Geisinger patients will be able to work with their family physician to modify their lifestyle and minimize risks that may be revealed.”The hope, according to Feinberg, is “to provide truly anticipatory healthcare instead of the responsive sick care that has long been the industry default across the nation.”A hope is to make DNA sequencing as routine as its other standard tests like cholesterol checks, colonoscopies and mammograms. Providers would be able to work with patients to respond to any risk factors found in the genomic test.

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