MedCity Pivot Podcast: Precision Medicine with the CEO of Helix

In a recent MedCity News Pivot podcast, our CEO and co-founder James Lu shared valuable insights on the state of precision medicine and its crucial role in the future of healthcare. As James emphasized during the interview, "If we're correct in this next era of medicine, precision medicine will be just medicine."

Here are some key takeaways from James's conversation with MedCity News:

The Genomic Data Revolution

"Helix is the leading precision health company in the country," James explains. "We're really focused on empowering healthcare providers and health systems to enable large-scale genomics across a health system." This approach treats genomics as a dataset leveraged across various service lines, not just a test-by-test framework.

Bridging Research and Clinical Care

James highlights Helix's unique position: "We think about the genomic dataset as servicing both research purposes and clinical purposes." This integration is crucial for advancing precision medicine and improving patient outcomes.

Early Detection and Improved Outcomes

Our data shows a significant gap in current practices. James notes, "90% of carriers are missed in typical practice. 80% of those people actually don't have sufficient family history to qualify under typical guidelines." Helix's approach aims to close this gap.

Workflow Optimization is Key

"Much of the breakthroughs in this space are not at the data generation level," James points out. "It's at the workflow organization, the digital-assisted provider level, to give the information at the right time so people can make a decision clinically."

Addressing Healthcare Disparities

Helix is committed to expanding access to precision medicine. As James shares, "We do a lot of work with major health systems in rural counties," ensuring that advanced genomic capabilities reach underserved populations.

The Future of Precision Medicine

Looking ahead, James believes the next phase of investment will be in "workflow optimization, decision support - these things that help physicians actually achieve the outcome that we thought we were going to get from the technology."

James summarizes the progress of precision medicine as "slower than we all hoped, but faster than we think." At Helix, we're dedicated to accelerating this progress, partnering with forward-thinking health systems, payers, providers, and life sciences companies to bring the benefits of precision medicine to patients across the country.

For hospital and health system leaders looking to stay at the forefront of healthcare innovation, now is the time to explore how Helix can help you implement a comprehensive precision medicine strategy. Together, we can shape the future of healthcare, today.

Watch the podcast here: