Purpose: In response to the World Health Organization's Women's Health Initiative, physical therapists (PT) at Mercy Catholic Medical Center formed a Women's Health Focus Group (WHFG) to address the unique needs of women across their lifespan. The mission was to review and collaborate on evidence based practice regarding disorders and impairments specific to women (osteoporosis, lymphedema, pelvic floor dysfunction, etc.) and then educate PTs in an effort to improve clinical practice. Osteoporosis was addressed first due to its prevalence among patients managed within our health system. There was an observed decrease in the awareness of risk factors, the disease process, and appropriate clinical pathways for examination and intervention by PTs related to osteoporosis. The purpose of this presentation is to highlight the process related to the development of a clinical examination tool (CET) to help improve awareness of and management for patients with or at risk for osteoporosis. Description: Referred journals and a variety of educational materials related to osteoporosis (etiology, risk factors, etc) provided the evidence base for our project. Overall, a system wide, seven week internal educational program focusing on osteoporosis (disease process, risk factors, target populations, safe and effective examination and treatment techniques) was developed. Among materials developed was an osteoporosis specific CET for use by PTs to help guide the examination process, identify common risk factors and impairments, and ultimately develop safe management strategies for patients. The CET consisted of postural, ROM, strength, flexibility, balance and ADL screening procedures relevant to osteoporosis. The measures chosen were found to be more objective, reliable and valid than previous tests utilized by staff therapists. In addition to the measures selected, excessive testing or positions/movements that placed patients at risk for compressive forces or fractures were avoided. Education regarding use of the CET was provided to all staff and competency testing was performed regarding the selected tests and measures to ensure proficiency and reliability. Summary of Use: The WHFG targeted osteoporosis as an area in which improved clinical practice and staff awareness was deemed necessary. The application of current best evidence was utilized to develop a system wide standardized CET to improve the overall management of patients with this disease. As a result of the development and educational processes followed related to the CET, clinician awareness of this disease was improved. Additionally and perhaps more importantly, clinical competence in appropriate management strategies was enhanced thus elevating the level of care received by women with or at risk for osteoporosis in our communities. Importance to Members: This project is consistent with the APTA Goal of having PTs universally recognized as providers of health promotion and risk reduction programs to enhance quality of life for persons across the life-span.