There are many things that stimulate our thinking when URAC considers development of new products, and we have sound criteria for evaluating each new idea. The genesis of our latest development effort, Genetics and Precision Medicine, was brought to us by scientists and clinicians who perceived a need to better organize the system of delivering care to people who are among our most vulnerable: people with genetic disorders.

A year ago, at the invitation of a URAC Board member, I attended a meeting at Johns Hopkins, where the topic was how to better organize the delivery of genetic services to maximize the effectiveness of limited resources. While there has been a proliferation of laboratories offering genetic testing (estimated in the thousands), and new genetic tests are introduced every day (numbering 70,000 at this writing), genetics professionals are, and will continue to be, in extremely short supply.

Much work has been done to analyze the US health system’s ability to provide diagnostic services for the general population and services to manage individuals and families who have, or are at risk for genetic conditions. Diagnostic services are more than just testing, genetics professionals are integral to helping even those not at risk to understand their results, and those with genetic conditions often require a lifetime of highly specialized care.

So, what does a shortage of professionals in a medical specialty have to do with accreditation? The key to making best use of limited healthcare resources lies in: 1.) seamless relationships between health providers, 2.) organizing effective teams, 3.) education and training for non-specialty practitioners to augment the team, 4.) promoting care coordination and family involvement, 5.) improving the efficiency of practices, and 6.) effective data collection, sharing and use. These elements are central to URAC’s provider suite of products! Using our proven method for stakeholder engagement, and building on our provider suite, URAC is midway through the development of a new program. We expect to launch Genetics and Precision Medicine in early 2018.

Very soon, we will begin to talk about Genetics and Precision Medicine, and a significant part of our messaging will include how this accreditation program is meeting the need. Over the next few months, we will be hearing more. Join me in communicating proudly about Genetic and Precision Medicine and URAC meeting the need.