ATHENS, Ohio -- The spring series of OU-COM's Geriatric Education Brown Bag seminars continues June 3, as Sarah McGrew presents "OA Update: Screening and Self-Management." The presentation will be held at O'Bleness Memorial Hospital from noon to 1 p.m. in room B-9.

McGrew will talk about OA, osteoarthritis, the most common arthritis and leading cause of disability in the United States. A key point of her presentation is the need for health-care providers to be familiar and up-to-date on OA as baby boomers age.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that by the year 2020, 60 million people will have arthritis compared to 43 million currently. Screening is an important tool in determining who is at risk for OA.

"If screening occurs early enough, people at risk can take preventative measures," said McGrew. "Screening also leads to early diagnosis, which is beneficial in reducing the complications which occur when a disease is left untreated, a frequent problem with arthritis."

McGrew will also discuss self-management strategies and complementary treatments, which may be beneficial for people with OA.

Health-care professionals are invited to attend the seminar. Brown bags are welcome. For more information, call the Geriatric Education Center at (740) 593-2258. Each lecture in this series of geriatric medicine/gerontology seminars is held on the first and third Mondays of each month at O'Bleness Memorial Hospital.