Hackensack Meridian Health Expands Osteoporosis Services, Opens First Bone Health Center

Hackensack Meridian Health is pleased to announce that it has expanded its comprehensive lineup of orthopedic services with the opening of the Center for Bone Health in January. As the first of its kind in New Jersey, the Meridian Medical Group practice screens for osteoporosis and provides treatment options if necessary. With more than 15 years of experience, Vicki DeNoia, MSN, APN, leads the practice by assessing bone fragility and evaluating fracture risk, including bone density testing.

According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, there are more than 2 million osteoporosis-related fractures every year. In many cases, this bone disease goes unnoticed until a fracture occurs. In 2014, the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) reported that only 22 percent of women over the age of 67 are screened for osteoporosis after a fracture. In fact, one third of people with a hip fracture had a warning sign— a prior fracture that was never screened or treated for osteoporosis.

“I have seen far too many patients lose their independence and be forced to move into a nursing home, or depend on a caregiver to help them with basic activities following a hip fracture,” says DeNoia. “As a result, patients’ lives have changed, causing disabilities, depression and worsening of their chronic health conditions.”

The Center for Bone Health was developed to manage this “silent disease.” According to DeNoia, the risk for fractures can be reduced with a combination of lifestyle changes and treatment. “Patients need to be informed of the risk of not treating fractures,” DeNoia continues. “They also need to be provided proper education on fall risk, calcium, vitamin D, and exercise. Together, we will address prevention and management of osteoporosis.”

The addition of the Center for Bone Health enhances the network's patient-centered approach to delivering care and provides a full continuum of care to Monmouth and Ocean County residents. Patients can be referred to the center by orthopedic practices, but self-referrals are also welcome. For additional information about the services provided, or practice hours and location, please call 732-263-7933 or visit MeridianMedicalGroupNJ.com/BoneHealth.

About Hackensack Meridian Health

Hackensack Meridian Health is a leading not-for-profit health care organization that is the most comprehensive and truly integrated health care network in New Jersey, offering a complete range of medical services, innovative research and life-enhancing care. Hackensack Meridian Health comprises 13 hospitals, including two academic medical centers, two children’s hospitals and nine community hospitals, physician practices, more than 120 ambulatory care centers, surgery centers, home health services, long-term care and assisted living communities, ambulance services, lifesaving air medical transportation, fitness and wellness centers, rehabilitation centers, and urgent care and after-hours centers. Hackensack Meridian Health has 28,000 team members, more than 6,000 physicians and is a distinguished leader in health care philanthropy, committed to the health and well-being of the communities it serves.

The Network’s notable distinctions include having one of only five major academic medical centers in the nation to receive Healthgrades America’s 50 Best Hospitals Award for five or more consecutive years, the number one hospital in New Jersey as ranked by U.S. News and World Report, consistently achieving Magnet® recognition for nursing excellence from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, recipient of the John M. Eisenberg Award for Patient Safety and Quality from The Joint Commission and the National Quality Forum, a six-time recipient of Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For,” one of the “20 Best Workplaces in Health Care” in the nation, and the number one “Best Place to Work for Women.” Hackensack Meridian Health is a member of AllSpire Health Partners, an interstate consortium of leading health systems, to focus on the sharing of best practices in clinical care and achieving efficiencies.

The hospitals of Hackensack Meridian Health include: academic medical centers - HackensackUMC in Hackensack, Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune; children’s hospitals - Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital in Hackensack, K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital in Neptune; community hospitals - Ocean Medical Center in Brick, Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, HackensackUMC Mountainside in Montclair, HackensackUMC Palisades in North Bergen, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy, Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin, Bayshore Medical Center in Holmdel, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Old Bridge, and HackensackUMC at Pascack Valley in Westwood.

To learn more, visit HackensackMeridianHealth.org.