§22-13A-4. Establishment and promotion of program; duties of officer; strategies for raising public awareness and educating consumers and professionals.

(a) The State Department of Health, hereinafter referred to as "the department," shall establish, promote, and maintain an osteoporosis prevention and treatment education program in order to raise public awareness, educate consumers, educate and train health professionals, teachers, and human service providers, and for other purposes.

(b) For purposes of administering this chapter, the State Health Officer shall do all of the following:

(1) Provide sufficient staff to implement the Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment Education Program.

(2) Provide appropriate training for staff of the Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment Education Program.

(3) Identify the appropriate entities to carry out the program.

(4) Base the program on the most up-to-date scientific information and findings.

(5) Work to improve the capacity of community-based services available to osteoporosis patients.

(6) Work with governmental offices, community and business leaders, community organizations, health care and human service providers, and national osteoporosis organizations to coordinate efforts and maximize state resources in the areas of prevention, education, and treatment of osteoporosis.

(7) Identify, and when appropriate, replicate or use successful osteoporosis programs and procure related materials and services from organizations with appropriate expertise and knowledge of osteoporosis.

(c) The department shall use, but is not limited to, the following strategies for raising public awareness on the causes and nature of osteoporosis, personal risk factors, value of prevention and early detection, and options for diagnosing and treating the disease:

(1) An outreach campaign utilizing print, radio, and television public service announcements, advertisements, posters, and other materials.

(2) Community forums.

(3) Health information and risk factor assessment at public events.

(4) Targeting at-risk populations.

(5) Providing reliable information to policy makers.

(6) Distributing information through county health departments, schools, area agencies on aging, employer wellness programs, physicians, hospitals and health maintenance organizations, women's groups, non-profit organizations, community-based organizations, and departmental regional offices.

(d) The department shall use, but is not limited to, the following strategies for educating consumers about risk factors, diet, and exercise, diagnostic procedures and their indications for use, risks, and benefits of drug therapies currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, environmental safety and injury prevention, and the availability of diagnostic, treatment, and rehabilitation services:

(1) Identify and obtain educational materials including brochures and videotapes which translate accurately the latest scientific information on osteoporosis in easy-to-understand terms.

(2) Build a statewide capacity to provide information and referral on all aspects of osteoporosis, including educational materials and counseling.

(3) Establish state linkage with an existing toll-free hotline for consumers.

(4) Facilitate the development and maintenance of osteoporosis support groups.

(5) Conduct workshops and seminars for lay audiences.

(e) The department shall use, but is not limited to, the following strategies for educating physicians and health professionals and training community service providers on the most up-to-date, accurate scientific and medical information on osteoporosis prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, therapeutic decision-making, including guidelines for detecting and treating the disease in special populations, risks and benefits of medications, and research advances:

(1) Identify and obtain education materials for the professional which translates the latest scientific and medical information into clinical applications.

(2) Raise awareness among physicians and health and human services professionals as to the importance of osteoporosis prevention, early detection, treatment, and rehabilitation.

(3) Identify and use available curricula for training health and human service providers and community leaders on osteoporosis prevention, detection, and treatment.

(4) Provide workshops and seminars for in-depth professional development in the field of the care and management of the patient with osteoporosis.

(5) Conduct a statewide conference on osteoporosis at appropriate intervals.

(Acts 1995, No. 95-259, p. 435, §4.)