Osteoporosis risk screening for women in a community pharmacy

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.

An independent community pharmacy (Main at Locust Pharmacy Clinic) in Davenport, Iowa, beginning in 1999.

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.

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=0) risk. An analysis was performed to determine the net financial gain or loss of osteoporosis screening.

Osteoporosis screening service.

T-score, overall cumulative risk score, cumulative modifiable risk score, and net financial gain of service.

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).

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.