Psych NPs - Use of genetic markers in psychiatric prescribing

[resilientnurse]

Does anyone have any experience using genetic testing, like Genecept Assay, in a practice setting? If so, how has it enhanced your clinical practice? Have you seen better results with the response to medication management? Also, has it increased revenues at all? Thanks.

[AmyBoggs]

I have used Genecept for over a year and half found that it is very helpful in directing prescribing. It has been an invaluable tool that I can't imagine going without. It has definitely increased revenues because I have had referrals from therapists that want their patients tested and other friends or family members of patients that requested the testing and became patients to get it done. Plus, patients are eager to come back after the testing to get the results. I usually have them come back in 2-3 weeks.

[resilientnurse]

Hi there AmyBoggs,

Thank you for responding. When patients return for their results, how do you bill that? Just as a medication review?

[APNSolutions]

I have been using the Genecept Assay since the "early adopter" period, a number of years ago. I have many patients with complex medication histories & side effects & have found the assay results to be a remarkable tool for the following reasons:

1). It Provides validation to the patients that their symptoms/experiences/side effects aren't "all in their head"

2) it provides me with a concrete template to guide psychopharmacological treatment decisions, not only for complex symptom presentations with patients but also avoids the "trial & error" for medication naive patients

when I utilize the assay, it is generally part of a session, as is the feedback on the results, which I provide to patients so they can share it with their primary practitioner as the drug metabolism results are not unique to the psychotropics.

I would also also share that every patient who has completed the assay, refers at least one additional patient, so in that regard, more patients means more revenue

I hope this helps!! I have explored the competition to the Genecept Assay & Genomind's product is far & away more comprehensive & allows the practitioner to incorporate ALL of the patient's symptoms, tests, etc into the decision making. Finally, the clinical team & other members of the Genomind team are exceptional & easily accessed!!

Laura Leahy, DrNPc, APN.

Sewell, NJ