Province Accepts Osteoporosis Recommendations

The Department of Health is accepting all 12 recommendations of the Provincial Osteoporosis Committee, including placing new bone density units in Sydney and Yarmouth and operating the Truro unit at full capacity.

Health Minister Jamie Muir made the announcement at a news conference in Truro today, June 18. He also encouraged all men, women and children to stay active, to eat well and to have a good source of vitamin D and calcium if they are to build and sustain healthy bones to help prevent osteoporosis.

The committee was established in 2001 in response to concerns about the limited access to bone density units and the absence of appropriate guidelines for bone density testing. It comprised experts from across the province, including a representative from the Osteoporosis Society of Canada, Nova Scotia Chapter.

"I was very pleased with the report's thoroughness and recommendations and I certainly thank the members of the Provincial Osteoporosis Committee for their hard work," said Mr. Muir. "The recommendations are completely in line with the department's commitment to help people to take better care of themselves and to make the right lifestyle choices to prevent illness."

Making the right lifestyle choices isn't always easy for people, the minister said.

"The report identifies and supports the value of community-based initiatives and recommends how the department can partner with the district health authorities and others to help people along their way to achieve and sustain healthy bones."

The new guidelines for bone density testing are a critical part of the committee's report. It's a first for the province.

"The new guidelines are critical to fulfilling our mandate," said Brenda Payne, chair of the Provincial Osteoporosis Committee. "They will help doctors to identify their patients who are in greatest need of receiving a bone density test so that appropriate treatment for osteoporosis can be given."

After reviewing information including wait lists and utilization of the current units in the province, the committee recommended that a new bone density unit should go to Cape Breton and to Yarmouth and that the Truro unit should operate full-time.

It is expected that the unit in Truro will be able to conduct about 3,700 more tests when operating at full capacity. It is estimated that almost 19,000 more tests will be done each year as a result of two new units and increasing capacity in Truro.

"We will double the capacity we can do in the province," said Mr. Muir.

The new units are the last two pieces of equipment that will be paid for from the federal government's funding program.

The department will immediately begin to implement the committee's recommendations, including working with the district health authorities, the long-term care sector, Osteoporosis Society, government departments and other key partners to:

• educate children, parents and health-care providers on the important factors in preventing osteoporosis during childhood and adolescence, the critical years for building healthy bones;
• strengthen and endorse community-based initiatives to reduce the number of falls by seniors;
• promote the use of Vitamin D and calcium in nursing homes and identify the people most likely to fall; and promote the appropriate use of hip protectors;
• accept new criteria for bone density testing. The committee said that bone densitometry is not recommended as a routine screening tool;
• modify medications currently covered by the Seniors' Pharmacare Program to optimize the care of people who have osteoporosis;
• standardize equipment and processes related to quality assurance and reporting. This will help to increase ease of access for patients to bone density units in any location;
• explore centralized booking for bone density testing with the implementation of the province's new health information system to help reduce wait lists for bone density screening; and
• develop an education and communication plan with partners including the Osteoporosis Society of Canada, Nova Scotia Chapter, for the public and clinicians.

"It's a big step in the right direction," said Dr. Diane Theriault, a rheumatologist who treats many patients with osteoporosis. "The Osteoporosis Society of Canada, Nova Scotia Chapter, is very excited about the new recommendations. We look forward to working with the department in the implementation phase."

Osteoporosis is a major cause of bone fractures, specifically hip fractures, which are a devastating injury. It is estimated that osteoporosis affects about 43,340 women and 15,424 men over the age of 50 in Nova Scotia. About 20 per cent of people who have a hip fracture die in the first year. Others may require care in nursing homes. More than 28,700 inpatient stays in 2000 were related to osteoporosis.

There are three bone density units in the province: QEII Health Sciences Centre in Halifax, Fishermen's Memorial Hospital in Lunenburg and Colchester Regional Hospital in Truro.