ORIGINAL ARTICLE Implementation of a Mandatory Rheumatology Osteoporosis Consultation in Patients With Low-Impact

treated major health problem. The current treatment rate for patients who have experienced at least 1 osteoporotic fracture is 20%–25%. Therefore, the Rheumatology and Internal Medicine Departments of Ochsner Clinic Foundation New Orleans implemented a mandatory rheumatology osteoporosis consult as part of preprinted admission orders for all patients after hip fracture surgery on the Internal Medicine service. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 78 patients admit-ted with a low-impact hip fracture between June 2004 and July 2005. These patients were seen by the rheumatology service in the hospital after hip fracture repair (exposed group). Osteoporosis evaluation was performed based on an interview questionnaire. Seventy-eight age-matched patients previously admitted for low-intensity or low-impact hip fracture in 2002–2003 but not exposed to the mandatory rheumatology consult served as our comparison group. Pearson