Santa Barbara Managing Osteoporosis in Women after a Fracture
2024-25 Edition
Why is osteoporosis management important in women who have had a fracture?
Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to become weak and brittle and increases the risk of bone fractures, or broken bones. Osteoporosis is more common among women, particularly as they age. Women who have had a bone fracture are at higher risk of suffering from additional fractures. Osteoporosis is a serious condition in older adults and can impact your quality of life.
How should doctors help manage osteoporosis in women?
Your doctor should work with you to decide the best treatment plan to help manage your osteoporosis. With appropriate screening and treatment, the risk of osteoporosis-related fractures can be reduced. Your doctor can order tests to help you understand your risk of osteoporosis and can also prescribe medications to help treat osteoporosis and prevent fractures.
Talk with your doctor and health plan to find out about what other services are available. Many health plans offer additional support and resources for patients with osteoporosis. These additional services may include educational materials (online and in print), classes or support groups, phone counseling or safe exercises to prevent bone loss.
What do the stars mean?
The scores show how well each medical group did at making sure that female patients age 67 to 85 who suffered a fracture were given a test to check the amount of calcium in their bones or a prescription for a drug to treat or prevent osteoporosis in the six months after the fracture. The higher score means more patients got the right care at the right time.
The scores are based on information from at least 30 Medicare Advantage patient records for each medical group in 2022.