Decision Support Systems Essay

Decision Support Systems Essay

Healthcare technology is advancing at a rapid pace. Many new advances in the research and knowledge of genomic data are are helping individuals have access to better care. Understanding genomic information can help to ensure that the proper medications are given to each patient. The article Development of a Scalable Pharmacogenomic Clinical Decision Support Service describes the implementation of decision making support system in order to improve healthcare to pediatric patients at Boston Children’s Hospital. Genomic data is becoming more readily accessible to healthcare providers due to better sequencing technology. By using each patient’s unique genetic code, there is less chance of adverse reactions of medications and treatments. This information is especially important when patients have genetic variants which may make them susceptible to life-threatening consequences. The healthcare providers and staff at Boston Children’s Hospital recognized the need to develop a “scalable pharmacogenomic clinical decision support service” that analyzed genomic variant data, incorporated Clinical Pharmacogenomics Implementation Consortium (CPIC) guidelines, produced customized clinical reports, and integrated these reports with electronic medical records systems (Fusaro, Brownstein, Wolf, Clinton, Savage, Mandl, Marulies & Manzi, 2013). The CPIC was the chief advocate in creating the Clinical Pharmacogenomics Service (CPS) oversee the use of genomic information to make the distribution of pediatric medication safer for the healthcare providers and staff at the Boston Children’s Hospital. The main goal was to implement a standardized test for thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT) throughout the hospital. It is necessary to test TPMT because it is an important enzyme which metabolizes thiopurine drugs such as azathioprine, mercaptopurine, and thioguanine. These drugs are often used as immunosuppressants and may be prescribed for conditions such as leukemia, autoimmune disorders, and organ transplant recipients. If there are mutations in TPMT, individuals experience decreased bone marrow activity, resulting in fewer red and white blood cells, and platelets. The necessity of saving the lives of pediatric patients created the need to develop the TPMT test as soon as possible. In a short period of six months, the test for TPMT progressed from the planning to the production stage. Boston Children’s Hospital began the TPMT testing on August 1, 2012.