Pharmacogenomics Concierge Service as an Opportunity for Pharmacist Reimbursement and Practice-based Learning

Area of Science:

• Pharmacogenomics
• Pharmacy Practice
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Pharmacogenomics offers personalized medicine insights but lacks widespread clinical integration.
• Concierge services represent a novel model for delivering specialized pharmacy care.
• Integrating student learning into new service models is crucial for pharmacy education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of a pilot pharmacogenomics concierge service.
• To assess patient interest and willingness to pay for such a service.
• To provide practice-based learning experiences for pharmacy students.

Main Methods:

• A pilot study involved 34 participants completing a survey on willingness to pay.
• Six highly interested participants received free concierge services, including genetic testing.
• A layered learning model facilitated senior students mentoring junior students.

Main Results:

• The majority of participants (83%) received pharmacogenomic consultations.
• Participants indicated a willingness to pay $25-$50 monthly for continued pharmacist access.
• Patient interest in the service was high (mean rating 8.6/10), but decreased if insurance did not cover costs.

Conclusions:

• The pilot program highlighted successes and challenges in implementing pharmacogenomics concierge services.
• Findings can inform the development of new pharmacy services and student experiential learning opportunities.
• Further research is needed to optimize models for pharmacogenomics integration into pharmacy practice.