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Osteoporosis risk screening for women in a community pharmacy.Liu Y, Nevins JC, Carruthers KM, Doucette WR, McDonough RP, Pan X Program of Pharmaceutical Socioeconomics, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242, USA. OBJECTIVES: To describe the development, implementation, and financial aspects of a sustainable osteoporosis screening service in a community pharmacy and report osteoporosis risk factors for women screened during the 48 months in which the screening service was in operation. SETTING: An independent community pharmacy (Main at Locust Pharmacy Clinic) in Davenport, Iowa, beginning in 1999.Practice description: The osteoporosis screening service was provided by a staff pharmacist, a pharmacy resident, or a combination of a pharmacist and a resident. The service included use of the Hologic Sahara Bone Sonometer at the heel and education of the patient. Patient education consisted of a discussion of screening results, an overview of osteoporosis, and recommendations to address risk factors. PRACTICE INNOVATION: For patients who received osteoporosis screening, an overall cumulative risk score and a cumulative modifiable risk score were calculated. Patients were identified as having high (T-score <or=-1), moderate (-1 < T-score <0), or low (T-score >or=0) risk. An analysis was performed to determine the net financial gain or loss of osteoporosis screening.Intervention: Osteoporosis screening service. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: T-score, overall cumulative risk score, cumulative modifiable risk score, and net financial gain of service. RESULTS: A total of 444 women received the osteoporosis screening service during 48 months. More than 90% of the women had an overall cumulative risk score of at least 3, and 83.3% had at least one modifiable risk factor. According to the bone density tests, about 58% of the women were at high risk for osteoporosis and 25.7% were at moderate risk. The service had a net gain if provided by a pharmacist ($4,823.72), a resident ($8,153.72), or a combination of a pharmacist and a resident ($6,488.72). CONCLUSION: This pharmacy-based osteoporosis screening service effectively identified patients at risk for osteoporosis and was sustainable for 48 months. Other community pharmacies are encouraged to offer similar services. Published 9 July 2007 in J Am Pharm Assoc (2003), 47(4): 521-6.
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