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Automated system may help identify patients at high risk for osteoporosis

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Using an automated system to identify patients being treated for fractures who are at high risk for osteoporosis and generating letters to these patients to encourage follow-up can be an effective way to promote osteoporosis intervention and prevent fractures, according to results from Penn State College of Medicine researchers that were published in Geriatric Orthopaedic Surgery & Rehabilitation.

According to a Penn State press release, the researchers used a spreadsheet created with monthly data from Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Canter’s finance department to analyze treatment codes and identify 103 patients aged 50 years or older with fractures that seemed to be related to fragility. The investigators then sent letters to these patients within 3 months of their emergency room visits. The letters explained that the patients may be at risk for osteoporosis and encouraged them to schedule an appointment with their doctors or with the hospital’s bone health clinic. Three months after the letter, a follow-up phone call was placed asking if follow-up treatment had occurred.

For comparison, the researchers also conducted 6-month follow-up phone calls to the 98 patients who did not receive letters. During these calls, patients were asked if they were being treated or had plans for follow-up after their fractures.

The investigators found 60% of patients who received a letter had followed up with their care compared to 14% of patient who did not receive a letter.

“Progressive bone fragility leads to greater risk for fractures,” Edward Fox, MD, professor of orthopedics at Penn State College of Medicine, stated in the press release. “Hospitals treat fragility fractures, but they have no system in place to evaluate those same patients for osteoporosis to prevent the next fracture. This study’s results are better than no letter or doing nothing, which is what most hospitals are doing, including the one piloting our program before it started this program.”

Reference:

www.psu.edu

Disclosure: The authors have no relevant financial disclosures.