Precision medicine company GeneDx (Nasdaq: WGS) is collaborating with EHR vendor Epic to expand access to its rapid whole genome sequencing (rWGS) services in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).
The integration with Epic Aura allows health systems that use Epic to receive orders and send results directly from the EHR. Epic describes its Orders and Results Anywhere Network, or Aura, as a software suite that allows quick and seamless connections to health systems that use Epic for receiving orders and sending results.
Stamford, Conn.-based GeneDx said it has seen an 80% year-over-year increase in its rapid testing business. The payer landscape is rapidly evolving, with 11 states now offering Medicaid coverage and an increasing number of commercial payers adopting coverage policies for this critical testing.
“Access to rWGS leads to improved patient outcomes by accelerating the timeline between diagnosis and treatment. As GeneDx continues to drive utilization of its whole exome sequencing in the outpatient setting, today’s announcement affirms our commitment to opening up access to our rWGS services for health system partners, providers, and families who are in need of diagnosing a baby in the NICU,” said Katherine Stueland, president and CEO of GeneDx, in a statement.
GeneDx is a collaborator in SeqFirst, a study at the University of Washington examining the impact on care of broad access to routine rWGS in critically ill infants at Seattle Children's Hospital. The study explores equitable approaches for a precise rapid genetic diagnosis at the initial point of care for critically ill infants and unlocks more opportunities to scale testing in clinical care settings that serve diverse communities with varied levels of infrastructure for providing clinical genetic services.
"Rapid whole genome sequencing is a groundbreaking advancement for neonatal care, especially for critically ill babies in the NICU,” said Mike Bamshad, M.D., SeqFirst principal investigator and professor and head of genetic medicine in the department of pediatrics at the University of Washington and Seattle Children's Hospital, in a statement. “The ability to pinpoint genetic conditions early opens the door to improved clinical management, targeted therapies and can lead to improved outcomes for our youngest and most vulnerable patients. By integrating this technology routinely into patient care, we deliver a faster diagnosis, increasing the potential for timely and effective treatments, and providing families with critical information to better anticipate the needs of their child.”
