Regional Center for Bone Health

One in two women and one in four men age 50 and older are at risk for osteoporosis related fractures . . . a total of some 44 million Americans. Osteoporosis literally means “porous bones.” Instead of being strong and resilient, the bones of people with this disease become weak and fragile, breaking under minor stress.

Fortunately, osteoporosis can be effectively treated in a variety of ways, including exercise, nutritional supplements, and medication. IF it’s diagnosed. You can’t fix a problem if you don’t know you have one.

“Early detection opens the door to effective treatment, reestablishing healthier bones, and significantly reducing the risk of fractures,” says Genevieve Lankowicz, MD, Medical Director of the Regional Center for Bone Health at Elkhart General. “Our Women’s Center has the most advanced osteoporosis screening system available – the Lunar Prodigy DEXA system. It’s an extremely safe, accurate, and patientfriendly system. Most scans are completed in fifteen minutes.”

Dr. Lankowicz carefully analyzes each scan and establishes a T-score that correlates to bone density. The T-score is so reliable that it’s possible to accurately predict the probability of a fracture occurring within the next year and how many additional fractures are likely to occur during the remaining years of your life if nothing is done to prevent them.

Once the findings are reviewed, a report is sent to your primary care physician along with the treatment recommendations you need. For many women, all it takes are simple lifestyle changes involving diet and exercise. More advanced cases can be treated effectively through medical management options, including the use of prescription drugs that may significantly slow or even stop the loss of bone mass.

For more information or to schedule an osteoporosis screening, please call the Elkhart General Women's Center at 574-523-2751 or toll free (866) 637-3863