Empowering individuals and preventing disease with data-driven insights
Physicians know that inflammation is the root cause of many diseases. And in order to really understand where and how it manifests, it’s important to run the right set of tests. Inflammatory markers are relevant in detecting cancers, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, and digestive issues, among many other diseases.
Medical professionals are increasingly looking at how they can leverage technology to deliver services that get to the root of the problem. One example is the analysis of patients' genes to help prevent disease, chronic inflammation, and otherwise address medical issues before they present as symptomatic by years, even decades.
Enter TELUS Health’s newest service in Calgary, Precision Health, designed to help individuals achieve longevity and live exceptionally.
Dr. Tracy Thomson is the Medical Director of the TELUS Health Care Centre offering Precision Health services. She has a background in functional medicine and preventive health. Her whole medical practice has been about understanding the big picture, looking at the patient holistically, and providing insights that can help people live happier, healthier lives.
She’s done this by partnering with TELUS Health to help empower patients with data about their health, to identify their unique predispositions, and ultimately, help prevent long term disease.
So what does that look like in practice?
Dr. Thomson says, “I think the real beauty of Precision Health is that we take all of the big picture data points to get a comprehensive picture of your body’s current state. Then, we deliver those insights to the patient via the personalized dashboard that the patient can track over time1. Because you are the owner and this is your body.”
Precision Health puts TELUS Health at the forefront of innovation in preventive health technology in Canada. This new service offers cutting-edge assessments including MRI with digital twin technology, genetic testing, comprehensive labs and more, with the ability to analyze over three million unique data points. From this analysis, individuals receive advanced insights which can help inform their health and wellness practices based on their own unique genome and health status. Those insights are delivered via an interactive and personalized dashboard.
According to Dr. Thomson, historically, medicine has focused on diagnoses and treating disease. Precision Health services are different because they use a preventive philosophy as a foundation.
“Most bad things have inflammatory markers at their roots,” said Dr. Thomson, speaking from her clinic.
“So if there is evidence through biomarkers or things we can see on physical scans that show inflammation, we can work towards taking steps that may help put those smoldering fires out. We can also make specific recommendations based on people's unique body types and medical history.”
So what is a proactive approach to health, and how is it placed at the forefront of the offering from Precision Health?
Preventive medicine
Preventive health uses tests, scans, innovative software and comprehensive personalized assessments to help inform or predict future health issues in an effort to proactively ward off disease, helping people to live longer, healthier lives. That’s according to a 2020 medical study published in Neural Computing and Applications, which found that harnessing data points from imaging, genomics and bioanalytics has the potential to save lives.
Precision Health
TELUS Health’s Precision Health service currently offers three tailored packages. These packages establish important baselines for individuals to build and improve upon and come combined with personalized insights and recommended actions.
The Longevity package is for those seeking advanced insights into their body's current state through MRI imaging and digital twin technology, as well as predispositions through genetic testing. The Performance package is intended for athletes or athletic individuals who want to enhance or optimize their overall performance levels and physique. The Heart Health package is for those who want to prioritize cardiovascular health and provides a detailed risk score based on a wide range of biomarkers.
Each package enables longitudinal tracking to monitor health changes over time. Consistent annual assessments will progressively enrich each insight, fostering a comprehensive picture of an individual’s health.
The Longevity package goes as far as creating a digital twin by aggregating the individual’s health data, creating a 3D replica of the body highlighting personalized key health indicators and recommending actionable lifestyle changes.
With a deep understanding of each individual’s unique physiological makeup, the health coaches at Precision Health craft tailored regimens and strategies to help optimize health outcomes. This innovative solution drives forward the evolution of personalized and preventive healthcare solutions that individuals are increasingly looking for.
TELUS Health's newest Care Centre offering Precision Health is more than just a health facility. By emphasizing preventive health and personalized care, the clinic is setting a new standard in health. As Dr. Thomson puts it, "The best way to treat a disease is to prevent it from happening in the first place."
If you're in Canada and looking to take control of your health, Precision Health is the place to start. Book your proactive health assessment today.
The state-of-the-art TELUS Sky building is located in Calgary’s downtown core at 685 Centre Street South.
1. If the user chooses to make this investment year after year.