Welcome Medicare Nation! I interviewed clinicians and global experts in the bone health field gathered during the Interdisciplinary Symposium on Osteoporosis  held in Miami, Florida from May 12 to 15, 2016. May is the National Osteoporosis Awareness Month. Clinicians and Academicians Joined  the National Osteoporosis Foundation to Identify Solutions for Reducing the Two Million Broken Bones Caused by Osteoporosis Each Year.

This conference was sponsored by the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF), the organization dedicated to preventing osteoporosis, promoting strong bones, and reducing human suffering through education, advocacy, and research.  NOF is committed to promoting bone health among the elderly through healthy diet and safe exercise.  Both can help stop the loss of bone mass and help prevent fractures. 

 

Leading medical and scientific experts in the bone health field discussed  the latest information on preventing broken bones and lead in-depth educational sessions on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis.

 

I met brilliant doctors, nurses, and therapists from all over the world and learned about:

 

• Prevention and treatment of  osteoporosis 
• Education for prevention of people at risk
• There are 54 million Americans who suffer from osteoporosis 
• To address this significant care gap, the ISO 2016 included training on preventive care model that operates under the supervision of a bone health specialist and seeks to prevent repeat fractures. 
• The Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) Model of Care Training Course is designed to help doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, registered nurses and other healthcare professionals improve the care management of post-fracture patients and navigate the complicated coordination of care process across hospitals, medical offices and multiple medical specialties through the application of best practices.
• The FLS model of care is the key to sparing millions of American from breaking bones due to osteoporosis.
• This 2016 ISO includes updated FLS training, and the introduction of Bone Health ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes), a strategy of telementoring FLS coordinators and healthcare professionals of all levels, with the aim of reducing the osteoporosis treatment gap  said E. Michael Lewiecki, MD, FACP, FACE, New Mexico Clinical Research & Osteoporosis Center, Co-Chair ISO Planning Committee 2016. 
• If you are over 50 and have hip or back fracture, then you have osteoporosis. 
• Secondary fractures can occur, too. 
• Every year, osteoporosis is responsible for two million broken bones, yet fewer than 25 percent of older women and men who suffer from a fracture are tested or treated for osteoporosis. 

So many things can happen, secondary fracture, pneumonia, 

You can find the best information about osteoporosis from  www.nof.org   National Osteoporosis Foundation.

 

Listen to the first part of a 2-part interview. Learn about food for the bones, calcium-enriched diet, safe exercises for the elderly.  We are on iTunes, and Google Play.  Please tell your friends about medicare nation, and the 3 other shows I have.  You shouldn't be breaking your hip or back. If you get fractured, you have osteoporosis.

1. Susan Randall  

 

• Osteoporosis  is the condition where the bone is weakened and impaired and more prone to rapture.  
• Causes of osteoporosis include: aging and decline in estrogen and testosterone
• Women and men both have the same hormones. Both lose these key  hormones as we age  
• These hormones influence other bodily functions.  As the hormones decline, bone strength and quality are affected 
• Treatment for breast cancer  put on a class of medications  that are aromataste  inhibitor 
• Primary and secondary causes of osteoporosis. It's multifactorial 

 

2.   Dr. Sanjeev Arora  

 

• Dr. Arora, MD,  is the Keynote speaker , head of Project ECHO and  Improving Health in Underserved Populations through Technology;  
• He is from the University of New Mexico;  
• Project ECHO,  Extension for  Community Health Outcome use the FLS model to improve efficiencies and democratize medical knowledge.
• Project ECHO uses video conferencing technology where conference participants  can talk  via skype about the best  treatment  in underserved nations.  It's a new platform for medicine 

• Project ECHO is based on the  idea that a multidisciplinary team of providers  can attract outcome in the internet 
• The project targets meeting the medical needs of a billion people by 2020. It currently connects 13 countries and hundreds of universities and clinics.
• Additional ISO16 Highlights include:

• Sessions exploring the controversies in osteoporosis treatment and care;
• New tools for assessing fracture risk;
• Interactive sessions on safe exercises for people with osteoporosis;
• Evidence-based answers to the most common patient questions on osteoporosis and fracture prevention;
• Professional development workshops on patient education and new coding and reimbursement for osteoporosis;

 3.  Karen Kemmis   

• Karen is a Physical Therapist specializing in safe exercises and movements.
• Silver sneakers – use  gyms medicare vantage plan 
• Some exercise and moves  could be dangerous for the elderly 
• Many fitness instructors are not well versed with  chronic  conditions we have to be careful  what is safe for their particular condition
• Anything in the upright position is safe  for the low-density bone mass
• Dangerous moves include forward bending  such as toe touches, twisting hard, full rotation, sit-ups  
• Safe exercise moves include  lying on the back;  lay grazing, isometric exercise,  
• To work safely with a fitness instructor  tell them about your bone concern, go to www. nof.org, search  positive exercises,  print those materials and bring to instructor 

4.  Dr Maria Pesquera  

• Is a primary physician in Albany, New York  and has a lot of patients who have osteoporosis. 
• Her medical team is  having issues with medication used for treating osteoporosis
• She favors exercise alternatives such as yoga and pilates.
• She promotes a Holistic method of treatment that includes  healthy diet

 

Resources: 

 

• National Osteoporosis website:  www.nof.org 
• The best way to contact ECHO and Dr. Arora is via the website:  echo.unm.edu  

 

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