# Improving implementation of pharmacogenetic testing in the VA healthcare system

> **NIH VA I50** · WM S. MIDDLETON MEMORIAL VETERANS HOSP · 2021 · —

## Abstract

The Veterans Affairs (VA) PHarmacogenomic Testing for Veterans (PHASER) program, started in 2019,
involves implementation of pharmacogenomic (PGx) screening so that patients and providers have access at
the point of care to PGx test results of ten genes that affect prescribing of 37 common medications. The goal of
PHASER is to offer 250,000 Veterans PGx testing in order to improve efficacy and reduce toxicity and costs
related to pharmacotherapy. PHASER intends to reach 45-50 diverse VHA health care facilities by the end of
2023. Realizing the health benefits of PGx testing requires uptake by various stakeholders within a health care
system, including patients, providers, and administrators. The objective of this partnered evaluation is to
accelerate use of PGx testing in the VA. The goal of this project is to identify implementation determinants,
strategies, and outcomes that affect adoption, and effects on patient medication adherence. In Aim 1, we will
conduct interviews of key stakeholders at participating facilities, guided by the Consolidated Framework for
Implementation Research to specify organizational determinants and the Expert Recommendations for
Implementing Change typology to identify implementation strategies. In Aim 2, we will interview providers at
low- and high-adopting sites and use regression to identify factors associated with provider adoption. In Aim 3,
we will interview patients who have and have not had PGx testing, use regression to identify factors associated
with patient adoption, and survey patients who have had testing about patient-provider discussions and missed
doses. Finally, we will assess costs of implementing the PGx testing from the VA perspective. Data sources
include qualitative interviews of administrators, providers, and patients; PHASER program data managed by
the VA Informatics and Computing Infrastructure; and a patient survey. The PHASER program addresses VA
Strategic Analytics for Improvement and Learning quality measures and Centers for Medicaid and Medicare
Meaningful Measures. The immediate effect of this evaluation will be to provide the PHASER program with
actionable information to optimize implementation processes. This groundwork will create a blueprint to
facilitate implementation of future genomic medicine interventions and initiatives across the VA.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10316792
- **Project number:** 1I50HX003168-01A2
- **Recipient organization:** WM S. MIDDLETON MEMORIAL VETERANS HOSP
- **Principal Investigator:** Corrine Ione Voils
- **Activity code:** I50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-04-01 → 2024-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10316792

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10316792, Improving implementation of pharmacogenetic testing in the VA healthcare system (1I50HX003168-01A2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10316792. Licensed CC0.

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