Pharmacogenetics in the workplace

Companies are constantly searching for drug plan strategies to keep the workforce healthy, while simultaneously reducing rising costs. One of the driving forces behind these health-related factors is poor prescription drug compatibility. Medications often do not work on patients, and can lead to adverse drug reactions that range from dizziness to even death.  The result is often a prolonged trial-and-error period in selecting the best drug that works.  This prolonged-trial-and error period causes an increase in absenteeism and disability within a workforce, and a reduction in effectiveness of drug plan spending.  

Dr. Michael Prouse, Director of Operations at Personalized Prescribing Inc. will discuss a branch of personalized medicine called pharmacogenetics, which studies how our genes influence our response to medications. A simple pharmacogenetic test allows doctors to discover in advance whether a patient will respond to a medication to prevent negative side-effects. When it comes to getting the right drug to the right patient for optimal results, pharmacogenetics could be a game changer in reducing absenteeism and disability within the workplace, while increasing the effectiveness of drug plan spending. Dr. Prouse will discuss the science, implementation, safeguards and future directions of pharmacogenetics.  

Who should attend:

• Plan sponsors
• plan members
• benefits consultants
• CFOs
• CEOs
• pharmacy
• benefit managers.

What you will learn:

1. Pharmacogenetics 101
2. How to utilize and implement pharmacogenetics in a company
3. Safeguards for implementing pharmacogenetics in the workplace
4. Future of personalized medicine in the workplace. 

Dr. Michael Prouse, PhD

Dr. Michael Prouse is the Director of Operations at Personalized Prescribing Inc.  He oversees Personalized Prescribing’s total processes, which include an array of tasks from engineering pharmacogenetic panels to managing client accounts. Dr. Prouse completed his PhD at the University of Toronto St. George Campus, where he specialized on genetics.  He finished at the top of his PhD class where he was awarded many prestigious awards, including the Alexander Graham Bell Award - awarded to the top researchers in Canada.  Dr. Prouse has garnished several peer-reviewed scientific articles in the field of genetics, and has also published frequently on “pharmacogenetics in the workplace” in the top benefit magazines: Benefits Canada, Canadian HR Reporter, and Benefits and Pensions Monitor.   Dr. Prouse has an in-depth knowledge of the field of personalized medicine in the workplace and has sat on numerous personalized medicine expert panels to advance this field.  He has over 12 years of experience in the genetic sector. Dr. Prouse has delivered talks from Halifax to Vienna, presenting his research.  

His most recent talks have been delivered to the Conference Board of Canada Eastern Regional Meeting, the Canadian Human Resources Awards, and at the Beneplan AGM (over 250 companies present).  

Links to recent publications: http://www.mirabelsmagazinecentral.com/DigitalEdition/index.html?id=e4de67ade5c0-4464-9035-965fd21f76bc&pn=37&pv=d

http://www.personalizedprescribing.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Predictingcompatibility.pdf

http://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/personalized-medicine-the-future-ofbenefits-plans-64771

http://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/how-to-help-employees-manage-drugand-disability-claims-62245