Osteoporosis Program
Care Coordination’s Osteoporosis Program is based on Geisinger Health Plan’s Osteoporosis Clinical Guideline. This guideline was compiled based upon recommendations from the National Osteoporosis Foundation, American College of Rheumatology and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.
The following is a description of the Osteoporosis Program and its elements.
Program Goals
The goals of the Osteoporosis Program are to minimize the morbidity and mortality of members with osteoporosis while achieving the highest quality of life through the following:
- Incorporation of the Osteoporosis Clinical Guideline into a comprehensive health management program.
- Promotion of provider education related to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of osteoporosis.
- Promotion of member self-management related to healthy life-style choices, safety, and medication management of osteoporosis.
- Proper diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis in pre-menopausal women at risk, post-menopausal women, elderly men, and patients receiving glucocorticoids.
- Promotion of bone density testing in patients with risk factors for osteoporosis.
- Promotion of bone density testing and medication management in patients that fracture due to osteoporosis.
- Reduction in the incidence of fracture related to osteoporosis.
Interventions
Care Coordination nurses work with health care providers and rely on the following interventions when working with Health Plan members enrolled in the Osteoporosis Program:
- Comprehensive osteoporosis assessment and risk assessment.
- Individual or group self-management education: calcium intake, calcium supplements, exercise, risk factor reduction, screening, medications and safety.
- Collaboration with primary care physicians (PCP) to promote best practice and facilitate BMD testing and medication therapy if indicated.
- Health promotion/disease prevention services–influenza and pneumococcal vaccines, mammograms, safety belts, etc.
- Data analysis to support clinical management–calcium intake, risk factors, BMD testing and medication usage.
Program Referral
To refer a Health Plan member to the Osteoporosis Program, providers may call (800) 883-6355 or (570) 271-8763, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
References
National Osteoporosis Foundation–http://www.nof.org
AACE Osteoporosis Guidelines–http://www.aace.com/clin/guidelines/osteoporosis
NIH–Osteoporosis & Related Bone Diseases–http://www.osteo.org
