Nancy Ferris of Government Health IT reports:
The American Health Information Community is recommending that the federal government prepare for the day when people will choose to electronically store their genetic makeup so that doctors can match medical treatments to their genes.
Scientists are beginning to make connections between patients’ genetic characteristics and responses to particular medications. For example, certain breast cancers are linked to the patient’s genes, and those cancers can be treated more effectively now that that connection is understood.
The Health and Human Services Department will move to accommodate genetic information in e-health records and research databases if Secretary Michael Leavitt accepts the AHIC recommendations.
Full story – Government Health IT