The CORE Institute Launches Bone Health Program

The CORE (Center for Orthopaedic Research and Education) Institute is throwing its best resources at the issue of metabolic bone health. CORE has just announced the launch of its first Bone Health Program in Arizona at their North Phoenix clinic. Osteoporosis will be the highlight of the program, which will comprise patient care, research and teaching.

“Our rally cry here at The CORE Institute is ‘Keep Life in Motion!, ’ and that completely embodies what this Bone Health Program is all about, ” said Debra Sietsema, Ph.D., RN, director of Bone Health Clinical Operations at The CORE Institute, in the August 12, 2016 news release. “Our main goal is to help our patients prevent osteoporosis, promote bone health, minimize the risk of a fragility fracture, and accelerate fracture healing, and we are offering comprehensive evaluations and personalized treatments to ensure our patients receive excellent care every single time.”

As indicated in the news release, “The CORE Institute’s Bone Health Program includes specialized NP [nurse practitioner] or PAS [physician assistants] , physicians, physical therapists, and researchers working together to offer the resources needed for comprehensive care. The program engages the Physical Therapy Department for exercise, strengthening, and home/environmental safety to increase strength and balance to prevent future falls and fractures. They collaborate with other physician specialists, radiologists, and nutritionists while keeping the primary care physician informed of the bone health plan of care. The program follows national standards of practice identified by the American Orthopaedic Association’s Own the Bone, National Osteoporosis Foundation, and the National Quality Forum.”

Chairman and CEO, David J. Jacofsky, M.D. told OTW, “As patients and payors are becoming more focused on value over volume and on wellness over illness, population health and preventative medicine are becoming center stage. Although often a paradigm shift for surgeons, bone health provides real value to patients by helping to allow them to stay more active as they age, preventing complications of osteoporosis such as post fracture kyphosis, and optimizing healing after orthopedic surgery. Additionally, the metabolic milieu and/or behavioral habits that often drives poor bone health are also associated with driving other medical comorbidities and correcting these pathologies may have significant benefits for the patient beyond just the health of their bones.”

Asked about prevention initiatives, Dr. Jacofsky noted, “Complete and integrated bone health programs include strategies to effectively stratify and screen appropriate patients for osteopenia, initiatives to appropriately stratify and treat osteopenia and osteoporosis, and programs to optimize wellness and to minimize complications after elective orthopedic surgery. These wellness programs may include a range of initiatives from smoking cessation and alcohol counseling to nutritional education to Tai Chi, while treatment of significant disease may include a range of pharmacological treatment modalities.”