Outcomes of an osteoporosis disease-management program managed by nurse practitioners.
OBJECTIVE
To detail the outcomes of an osteoporosis disease-management program where nurse practitioners (NPs) have taken a leadership role in screening, diagnosing, and treating patients at risk for osteoporosis.


METHODS
An electronic medical record (EMR) was used to collect demographic, pharmacy, dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan, and fracture data from a population of over 625,000 patients with one or more risk factors for osteoporosis. Monthly reports were generated and distributed to the NPs to assist them in identifying patients that required screening or treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Over a 6-year period there was a 263% increase in the number of screening DXA scans done each year, a 153% increase in the number of patients on anti-osteoporosis medications each year, and a 38.1% decrease in the expected hip fracture rate.


CONCLUSIONS
NPs play an important leadership role in managing osteoporosis within a large health maintenance organization. The screening and interventions used can be applied by any NP in any practice setting on an individual basis to reduce hip fracture rates in the United States.
Greene
Denise
D
Kaiser Permanente, Orthopedics, 9897 Fonte RD, Cypress, California 90630, USA. dfgreene@att.net
Dell
Richard M
RM
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration; D002140:California; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000458:organization & administration; D008875:Middle Aged; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000458:organization & administration*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000451:nursing* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration