One of the most important movements in modern medical science is “precision medicine” also referred to as “personalized medicine.” In simple terms, this means going beyond “one-size-fits-all” traditional models of prevention and care. We must look very deeply at each client’s health history, metabolic factors, genetic traits, family history, lifestyle, social, and demographic factors before we create a health plan for them. We must understand the complete context of their life as well as their “molecular” uniqueness. At Harrison, we call this their Precision Medicine Profile (PMP), and it is crucial consideration as we develop care plans for our clients.
People join Harrison at various points in their life. Although Precision Medicine is more effective than traditional approaches at any age, it will deliver optimal results at the youngest possible age. This is because the probability of the “prediction” of risk, and therefore exceptional outcomes in prevention, increases when a person is assessed early.
At Harrison, we see prediction and appropriate intervention as the best possible scenario. This is why we are so committed to our child and young adult programs. Prediction is somewhat based on genetics, but also the science of epigenetics, which is how interaction with our environment causes molecular changes in our body, no matter how resilient our genetic makeup is. Air quality, nutrition, movement, exercise, family environment, social environment, medications, stress levels and many more factors cause important microscopic changes in our cells that affect our risk for disease and mental health disorders.
When a person becomes a client of Harrison, they are assessed in a very detailed way to establish their PMP, and therefore the most appropriate pathways of care. For adults, this becomes a combination of Prediction, Prevention and Early Detection. Our teams are expert on assessing risk and preventing disease, but sometimes disease has a head start. We must therefore establish a regime of early detection so that intervention can begin at the earliest possible moment when treatment is most effective. At Harrison, your PMP is constantly reassessed as an integral part of our personalized approach to care.
For many clients, disease will already be present. Their PMP is also very important at this point. This tells your health team how to React. It can inform them on which treatment will likely be most effective. Genetics does come into play at this stage, since science can inform physicians on the best choices of medication and dosage, as well as ever increasing choices in genetically targeted therapies.
Lastly, but very importantly, Precision Medicine involves client Participation. It is our goal to be educational and forthcoming with clients so that they fully understand the crucial role they play in achieving optimal outcomes in health and wellness. Without participation, we can only deliver what medical science has to offer for treatment. We are very good at treatment, but we would much prefer our clients avoid it.
We are very fortunate to have Dr. Bernard Esquivel leading our team of medical advisors in the field of Precision Medicine. He is the former Chief Medical Officer of the Mayo Clinic’s pharmacogenetic program and a globally renowned leader in the field.