Shenandoah Memorial Hospital

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Bone Mineral Density
300 Pershing Avenue
Shenandoah, Iowa
(712) 246-7288

Osteoporosis is a painful disabling disease that causes bones to become brittle, affecting more than 25 million Americans, 80 percent of whom are women.  The disease contributes to 1.5 million fractures each year, including 300,000 hip fractures.  After suffering from a hip fracture, nearly  one-fourth of patients age 50 and older die within one year.  More than 40 percent are discharged from a hospital into a Nursing Home while another 30% will live in an Assisted Living facility.  Bone loss and osteoporosis can be prevented and treated with proper "Bone Mineral Density" testing.

Who needs this test?

Best Technology

What's the best test?

What you will expect

Appointment

FAQ

Additional links
 

Who Needs the Test?

Bone density loss occurs naturally after age 30.  Women and men have an increased chance of having osteoporosis if one of the following risk factors pertains to them.

  • Menopause (single most important cause)

  • Long term use of steroids and thyroid hormone

  • Prolonged calcium-deficient diet

  • Family history of osteoporosis

  • Caucasian or Asian descent

  • Lack of exercise--low activity level

  • Smoking

  • Excessive alcohol intake

  • Thin or small build

  • Hormone replacement therapy for long periods of time

  • Personal history of fracture after age 50

  • All women age 65 and older

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Technology

The Shenandoah Medical Center purchased a state-of-the-art Bone Mineral Density CT exam package utilizing Mindways® software.  The Mindways® Bone Mineral Density package, the most accurate software on the market today, was FDA approved on August 18th, 2003.  SMC was the first hospital nationwide to have this Bone Density testing capability!!!  The Bone Mineral Density exam is performed utilizing SMC's new high tech CT Scanner.  While other bone density packages are limited to readings of the spine, Mindways® software takes density readings of BOTH the spine and the hip!

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What is the best test?

Mindway's® Bone Mineral Density imaging has come to the forefront versus 'Dual-Energy X-ray Absorbitometry' (DEXA).  Mindways® can detect even a 1% bone loss and the exam can be performed in as little as 10 minutes.  Mindways® will detect bone loss 2-4 times earlier than with traditional DEXA scanning.  There are numerous less expensive tests that measure peripheral bones like the ones often advertised by mobile services.  These, however, are not nearly as accurate and should only be considered as one component of patient diagnosis.

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What you will expect

  • Expedience

  • Professionalism

  • Comfort

  • Accurate results

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How to make an appointment

Physician referral.

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Commonly Asked Questions

Will my insurance cover the exam?

This would depend upon several variables.  It also varies from each insurance company and the specific plan.  Check with your insurance company.

Will Medicare cover the exam?

Medicare covers FDA approved bone density testing at least once every 2 years as long as a criterion is met.  Consult your physician to determine eligibility.

How long is the exam?

Appointments last between 5-10 minutes, however, the actual exam is less than one minute.

How accurate is the testing equipment?

It is 2-4 times more accurate than any other testing in this area.  Presently SMC is the only hospital in the region to offer this new technology.  

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