North York General Hospital has taken a key role in the province's first Osteoporosis Strategy, a comprehensive effort that aims to prevent osteoporosis through enhanced education and early diagnosis.

North York General Hospital is part of the first phase of Ontario hospital's participating in the Osteoporosis Strategy, which represents an annual investment of $5 million by the McGuinty government.

The Nanji Orthopaedic and Plastic Centre will be introducing an Osteoporosis Screening Coordinator into the centre for two days a week. The coordinator will be assessing patients being treated for low trauma fracture. Low trauma fractures are prime predictors of future fracture and an important marker of who should be investigated for osteoporosis.

The Screening Coordinator will work with the orthopaedic surgeons to raise patient awareness of the need to follow-up with their family physician after a fracture. As well, the coordinator will inform family doctors that a patient has suffered a low trauma fracture and will be able to provide information about community agencies that offer resources and support.

Deanna Smith is the new Osteoporosis Screening Coordinator at North York General Hospital. The position is championed by an orthopaedic surgeon in each hospital and training for this position is supported by Osteoporosis Canada, which is implementing this component of the new Strategy. Earlier this year, Osteoporosis Canada launched the Break Through Program as part of the osteoporosis Strategy. This program is a multi-pronged education initiative that champions a holistic approach to the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis, and builds and strengthens community linkages.

• 1.4 million Canadians have osteoporosis.
• 1 in 4 women over 50 have osteoporosis.
• 1 in 8 men over 50 have osteoporosis.
•  In Ontario, over half a million people have osteoporosis.

Contact:
Destiny Pickford
Media Relations and Communications Coordinator
North York General Hospital
Ph: (416) 756-6693
Email: dpickfor@nygh.on.ca