St. Joseph’s/Candler operates three infusion centers that provide specialized medications for patients diagnosed with osteoporosis. Osteoporosis, a condition affecting an estimated 10 million Americans aged 50 and older, leads to weakened bones that are more prone to fractures.
The infusion centers are located in Savannah, Georgia, and in Bluffton and Hilton Head, South Carolina. In Savannah, the St. Joseph’s/Candler Center for Infusion Therapy is situated on the Candler Hospital Campus. The Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion (LCRP) runs the Bone Health Program at its South Carolina locations, serving both cancer and non-cancer patients with osteoporosis.
The medications available at these centers include Prolia, administered as an injection every six months; Reclast, given as an annual infusion; and Evenity, provided as a monthly injection for one year before patients transition to Prolia. To qualify for treatment, patients must have a prescription from their healthcare provider and a DEXA scan completed within the past two years.
Chris Petrera, LPN and team leader of the Bone Health Program, explained the program’s objectives: “The purpose of the program is to make sure patients get treated in a timely fashion to make sure there’s no delays in scans, testing or treatment. We wouldn’t want any delayed treatments that were not absolutely necessary.”
Petrera also noted that sometimes treatment may be postponed due to other medical issues such as surgeries, dental procedures, or antibiotic use. The Bone Health Program offers individualized care plans and coordinates necessary lab work, scans, and authorizations. Petrera emphasized communication with patients: “What you can expect, without a doubt, is good communication. I keep an open line, and I try to call patients back the same day to address any concerns. I can also help them get orders for DEXA scans or any other orders they may need.”
Patients can be referred by their primary care physician or gynecologist or may self-refer by contacting Petrera directly. Once enrolled, patients meet with a nurse practitioner at least annually. Lab work is required before each medication dose, and DEXA scans are needed every two years. Education on medications and treatment guidelines is also provided before therapy begins.
Since Petrera became team lead in October 2024, patient enrollment has grown from 515 to over 620. “With these medications, you want to see either stability in your bone health or you want to see improvement,” Petrera said. “So far, I’ve only had two patients that transitioned off their medication because it wasn’t working. So the success rate is pretty high.”
For those seeking osteoporosis treatment in Savannah or South Carolina, contact information for each center is available through St. Joseph’s/Candler.
