With a rich history of 25 years in innovation, Ambry Genetics has consistently been at the forefront of genetic testing. However, Ambry’s commitment extends beyond just advanced testing methodologies. Since the groundbreaking launch of the Ambry Care Program® in 2019, the company has dedicated itself to significantly improving the accessibility and delivery of genetic services, ensuring patients receive proactive and comprehensive care.
Addressing Critical Gaps in Cancer Screening and Risk Reduction
Significant disparities exist between established medical guidelines and the effective connection of patients with proactive options for cancer screening and risk reduction. Consider these alarming statistics:
- A staggering 93% of women identified as high-risk for breast cancer and who qualify for breast MRI screenings are not receiving them.
- An estimated 80% of individuals with BRCA-related Breast and/or Ovarian Cancer syndrome remain undiagnosed.1
- Lynch syndrome, the most prevalent hereditary cause of colorectal cancer, affects 1 in 279 people, yet over 95% are unaware of their condition.2
Despite the evident need and patient willingness – with 76% of patients expressing openness to genetic testing for proactive healthcare planning3 – healthcare providers face considerable challenges. The increasing demands on their time make it difficult to thoroughly address each patient’s needs, especially during routine wellness visits where crucial decisions regarding proactive care are often made. This includes the complex processes of information gathering and analysis required for comprehensive breast cancer and hereditary cancer risk assessments.
Digital health technologies present a promising solution to enhance the efficiency and accessibility of genetic healthcare. Studies have demonstrated that health information delivered through digital platforms is comparable in quality and comprehension to physician consultations.4
The Ambry CARE (Comprehensive Assessment, Risk, and Education) Program is Ambry’s innovative response to optimize patient and provider interaction time while standardizing the quality of care delivery at scale. By leveraging cutting-edge digital health solutions, the Ambry CARE Program empowers health systems to effectively stratify patients based on their health risks, thereby facilitating proactive and patient-centered care pathways. CARE equips clinicians with the tools to make timely, evidence-based medical decisions, simultaneously boosting practice productivity.
Alt Text: The Ambry CARE Program logo, emphasizing Comprehensive Assessment, Risk, and Education for proactive healthcare.
Patient-Centric Design: Empowering Individuals in Their Healthcare Journey
The CARE program is meticulously designed to cater to the evolving needs of today’s patients. It offers convenient access through a user-friendly smartphone interface, powered by advanced technology. This digital accessibility allows patients to provide information and absorb vital educational resources in the comfort of their homes, at their own pace, and with the option to involve family members in the process. This approach ensures patients are well-prepared for informed discussions with their healthcare teams, leading to collaborative decisions focused on achieving improved health outcomes.
Alt Text: A patient interacting with the Ambry CARE Program interface on a smartphone, highlighting ease of access and patient empowerment.
Patients increasingly value high-quality clinical care, and a significant portion prioritize convenient, technology-driven access to healthcare management tools. In fact, 4 out of 5 patients express a desire for technology that simplifies their healthcare experience, recognizing its potential to enhance satisfaction and improve patient retention.5
The advantages of digital health technologies in this context are well-documented:
- They significantly improve accessibility to crucial genetic healthcare services.
- Patient acceptance and engagement with digital health platforms are high.
- Digital education platforms deliver health information as effectively, or even more so, than traditional healthcare provider interactions.
- Utilizing digital tools for sensitive health discussions results in comparable or reduced patient distress compared to face-to-face consultations.6
The Ambry CARE Program® is thoughtfully developed with a deep understanding of patients’ informational and experiential needs. It aims to transform patients into active, informed partners in their own healthcare journey, fostering a collaborative and proactive approach to health management.
Alt Text: Illustration depicting the Ambry CARE Program patient journey, showing proactive engagement and improved healthcare outcomes through digital health.
How the Ambry CARE Program Works: A Streamlined Process
The Ambry CARE Program utilizes a secure, HIPAA-compliant application to efficiently collect and analyze patients’ medical and family history information prior to in-person consultations. Patients receive a secure email or text invitation to access the CARE platform and input their relevant health information.
The platform’s sophisticated analysis of the provided medical and family history data enables it to determine an individual’s lifetime risk of breast cancer and assess their eligibility for hereditary cancer testing. This detailed risk stratification is crucial for developing customized cancer screening and risk reduction strategies, maximizing the potential for cancer prevention or early detection.
For example:
- Women identified with a lifetime breast cancer risk exceeding 20% may qualify for annual breast MRI screenings in addition to standard annual mammograms, allowing for more comprehensive monitoring.
- Individuals meeting established guidelines for genetic testing who opt for hereditary cancer testing may discover they carry a pathogenic variant or mutation in a gene that predisposes them to specific cancers. This knowledge empowers them and their healthcare providers to modify healthcare plans proactively, focusing on earlier cancer detection when treatment is most effective, or implementing strategies to reduce cancer risk.
The CARE platform also provides patients with access to a wealth of educational resources covering various relevant topics, including potential test results and their implications. To ensure inclusivity and accessibility, CARE is available in five languages, enabling a broader patient population to learn and engage in their native language. Ultimately, the Ambry CARE Program® is designed to empower patients to take a more active and informed role in managing their health and wellbeing.
Stay tuned for upcoming blog posts that will delve deeper into how The Ambry CARE Program® supports healthcare teams in delivering proactive patient care and enhancing practice productivity.
Sources
- https://blogs.cdc.gov/genomics/2023/07/25/persistent-underutilization/
- Win, A. K., Jenkins, M. A., Dowty, J. G., Antoniou, A. C., Lee, A., Giles, G. G., Buchanan, D. D., Clendenning, M., Rosty, C., Ahnen, D. J., Thibodeau, S. N., Casey, G., Gallinger, S., Le Marchand, L., Haile, R. W., Potter, J. D., Zheng, Y., Lindor, N. M., Newcomb, P. A., … MacInnis, R. J. (2017). Prevalence and penetrance of major genes and polygenes for colorectal cancer. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 26(3), 404–412. https://doi.org/10.1158/1055-9965.epi-16-0693 Hampel H, de la Chapelle A. The search for unaffected individuals with Lynch syndrome: do the ends justify the means? Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2011 Jan;4(1):1-5. doi: 10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-10-0345. PMID: 21205737; PMCID: PMC3076593.
- U.S. public opinion about personalized medicine survey shows public … (n.d.). Retrieved April 5, 2023, from https://www.personalizedmedicinecoalition.org/Userfiles/PMC-Corporate/file/us_public_opinion_about_personalized_medicine.pdf
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6906616/
- https://patientengagementhit.com/news/convenience-technology-use-can-boost-patient-satisfaction
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35803232/
