Centre for Osteoporosis & Bone Health

The Women’s College Hospital Centre for Osteoporosis and Bone Health is designed as an interdisciplinary consultant model.  Our team will provide assessment and a care plan for your patient. In most cases, follow-up is limited to 1-3 visits and in some cases, treatment may be initiated by the specialist.  Most patients will be discharged back to the primary care provider or referring provider for ongoing care, including pharmacotherapy.

Bone Densitometry Technologist

Our Bone Densitometry technologists are all Medical Radiation Technologists (M.R.T.) that have specialized in Bone Densitometry and have all been certified by the International Society for Clinical Densitometry (ISCD). They provide the highest quality of testing in BMD. They have a comprehensive quality assurance program in place to assess the machines stability as well as the technologist’s technique.

The patients are given a BMD questionnaire that is reviewed by the technologists prior to being scanned. The technologists will also assess the patients to determine the appropriate site(s) for scanning.

Please visit our Test tab to learn more about BMD testing.

Registered Nurse (RN)

The Registered Nurse plays an important role in the coordination of patient care as the liaison between patients, physicians and other health care professionals. The RN is involved in patient education on osteoporosis management and links patients to resources in their communities. In this advanced practice role, the RN can provide ongoing assessment, advice and support for patients and their families.

Occupational Therapist

Consultation with the Occupational Therapist (OT) involves assessment and education to prevent osteoporotic fractures, such as:

Fall prevention strategies, including assessing your specifci fall risk factors which may be physical, behavioral and/or environmental

Education on proper body mechanics throughout your daily acitvities to diminish the incidence of vertebral osteoporotic fractures. The majority of these fractures are painless; therefore preventing them from happening in the first place is essential

Pharmacist

The pharmacist plays an important role in helping patients make a more informed decision on the medication options used for the treatment of osteoporosis. Patients receive counseling and education on how medications work, their safety and effectiveness, and potential side effects. Individualized assessment is provided to address potential drug interactions, to optimize medication adherence, and to facilitate financial assistance when needed.

Physical Therapist

The goals of physical therapy are to maintain bone health, improve posture, and reduce the risk of falls/fractures. A physical therapy consult involves an individualized activity plan that will be tailored to your fracture risk and fitness level. A program may include:

Strength-training protocols appropriate for osteoporosis

Review of weight-bearing activities

Activities to improve balance

Education to improve posture and body alignment

Review of exercises to avoid

Physician Specialist

The physicians specialize in a wide variety of disciplines, including endocrinology, rheumatology general internal medicine, and women’s health.

Registered Dietitian

The dietitian will assess your specific nutritional needs and design a nutrition prescription for your bone health. Did you know that maximizing your overall nutritional intake can improve muscle strength, balance and bone health? The optimal eating plan for bone health should include:

• Adequate calcium and Vitamin D
• Adequate dietary sources of B12, Vitamin K, and magnesium
• Adequate fruit and vegetable intake
• Appropriate intake of dietary protein
• Minimizing caffeine, sodium and alcohol intake
• Achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight

 

Bone Mineral Density Testing

Women’s College hospital offers Bone Mineral Density tests using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).

For health professionals interested in referring a patient for a BMD Test, please complete the referral form on the “for providers” tab

What is a Bone Mineral Density Test?

A bone density scan is a simple, non-invasive and painless exam to measure bone mass in areas such as your spine and hip. The standard test uses a low dose X-ray to detect signs of bone thinning. While the patient is lying on the machine bed, an X-ray is emitted from underneath the bed and passes through the body. These X-rays are captured by the machine directly above the patient and measured. An image is produced and calculations are made to determine the density of the bone. The denser (thicker) the bones, the less X-rays pass through. If the bones are less dense (thin), more X-rays will pass through.  By measuring the density of the bones, we can:

evaluate for low bone mass or osteoporosis

determine future fracture risk

determine your rate of bone loss or monitor the effects of treatment.

Preparing for your BMD Test

A bone density scan requires little preparation. You may eat normally and take medications as prescribed by your doctor the morning of your test. However, we advise that patients do not take any calcium tablets on the day of the test. If a calcium tablet is taken just before the BMD test it may not be fully dissolved and may affect the results. Clothing with no zippers or metal buttons are recommended. The actual procedure only takes a few minutes to complete.