GeneDx (Nasdaq: WGS), a leader in genomic diagnostics, has integrated its advanced genetic testing services with Epic’s Aura, a specialty diagnostics suite designed to streamline genetic test orders and results within electronic health records (EHR). This partnership enables healthcare providers to access exome sequencing (ES), whole genome sequencing (WGS), and rapid whole genome sequencing (rWGS) directly within their existing clinical workflows.

UNC Health has become the first healthcare system to implement this integration, allowing its clinicians to deliver faster, more accurate genetic diagnoses and reduce the time to treatment. As more hospitals and health networks adopt this system, the use of genetic testing in routine medical care is expected to expand significantly.

Key Takeaways

GeneDx has integrated its genomic testing services with Epic’s Aura to streamline genetic test orders and results within electronic health records, improving efficiency and patient outcomes.

  • UNC Health is the first to implement this integration, enabling faster and more accurate genetic diagnoses.
  • The partnership enhances clinical decision-making by embedding genetic test results directly into patients’ medical records.
  • This advancement supports personalized treatment plans and drives better long-term health outcomes for patients.

The role of genetic testing in modern medicine

Genetic testing is a powerful tool for diagnosing rare diseases, hereditary conditions, and genetic predispositions to illnesses, but integrating these complex datasets into clinical workflows has historically been a challenge. Many health systems rely on separate, external portals to order tests and retrieve results, making the process cumbersome and inefficient.

By embedding genetic testing within Epic Aura, GeneDx removes these barriers, ensuring that test results are delivered directly into a patient’s medical record. This structured data integration enhances accessibility, clarity, and usability, allowing providers to make informed decisions quickly.

Dr. Michael Adams, Pediatric Genetics and Metabolism at UNC Health, stated that Aura seamlessly integrates genetic test results with other lab results, making them more accessible instead of being placed in a separate section. He also emphasized that this structured format creates opportunities for further research and quality improvements.

How GeneDx on Epic Aura enhances efficiency

This integration streamlines genetic testing by embedding it into EHR workflows, enabling faster, more accurate diagnoses and personalized treatment plans. It reduces manual data entry and enhances efficiency, improving patient outcomes. The integration of GeneDx’s genomic testing with Epic Aura brings multiple benefits.

Seamless ordering and result retrieval: Clinicians can request tests and review results within a single platform, eliminating the need for multiple logins.

Improved workflow efficiency: Genetic test results are displayed alongside other lab reports, making them easier to interpret and use for treatment decisions.

Faster diagnoses and targeted treatments: By reducing the time required to process genetic information, providers can act more quickly to treat genetic conditions.

Advancing genomic medicine

GeneDx’s collaboration with Epic Aura brings genomic testing directly into electronic health records, enabling faster diagnoses and targeted treatments. This advancement enhances clinical decision-making and patient care across multiple specialties.

Growth of genetic testing in healthcare

As more health systems integrate with GeneDx through Epic Aura, genetic testing is becoming a key element of precision medicine across various specialties. In pediatrics and neonatology, it helps identify genetic conditions in newborns and children at an early stage, enabling timely interventions.

In neurology, genomic insights assist in diagnosing genetic factors linked to neurological disorders, improving treatment strategies. Additionally, in oncology, genetic testing plays a crucial role in understanding mutations that drive cancer, allowing for more personalized treatment approaches tailored to each patient’s unique genetic profile.

GeneDx’s vast database of over 750,000 sequenced exomes and genomes, combined with millions of phenotypic data points, provides unmatched diagnostic capabilities. By integrating these insights into Epic Aura, healthcare providers can improve clinical decision-making and patient outcomes.

Real-world impact on patient care

With this integration, healthcare teams can more accurately diagnose genetic conditions, leading to timely and targeted treatments. For patients, this means fewer delays in diagnosis, reducing the uncertainty often associated with genetic conditions. It also leads to more effective treatment plans tailored to individual genetic profiles, ensuring personalized care. Additionally, genomic insights help anticipate and manage disease progression, contributing to better long-term health outcomes.

“We’ve empowered thousands of clinicians with genomic insights that have changed clinical care and led to better health outcomes,” said Katherine Stueland, President and CEO of GeneDx.

The future of genomic medicine in healthcare

Driving Innovation in Genetic Research and Data Utilization

GeneDx’s integration with Epic Aura not only improves clinical workflows but also strengthens genetic research initiatives. The structured genomic data captured in EHRs can be used to identify new genetic markers for diseases, enhance predictive analytics for hereditary conditions, and improve drug development and personalized treatment options.

As healthcare continues to embrace data-driven decision-making, collaborations like this will be crucial in bridging the gap between genomic research and real-world clinical applications.

The path toward widespread adoption

UNC Health’s adoption of GeneDx through Epic Aura is expected to encourage other health systems to follow suit, making genomic testing more accessible and integrated into standard patient care. This shift aligns with the broader movement toward personalized medicine, where treatments are tailored to an individual’s genetic profile, medical history, and lifestyle factors.

By embedding genetic testing into daily clinical workflows, healthcare providers can move toward a future where genomic insights are a routine part of patient care, improving early disease detection and treatment precision.

The integration of GeneDx with Epic Aura is a game-changer for genomic testing and personalized medicine. By making genetic diagnostics more accessible, efficient, and actionable, this partnership is set to transform patient care, accelerate diagnoses, and drive better health outcomes.

As more health systems embrace this technology, genetic testing will become a standard tool across multiple medical specialties, shaping the future of precision medicine and data-driven healthcare.