Sutter North Medical Foundation recently added the PRODIGY bone densitometer to their Imaging Department located at the Diagnostic and Outpatient Center at 440 Plumas Boulevard in Yuba City. This new technology measures patient bone density and allows the physician to follow the results over time—detecting bone density loss at a much earlier stage. If the patient’s bone density is low, or decreases at an abnormally fast rate, the patient may be at risk for osteoporosis. Knowing this information allows a patient, with their physician, to prevent further deterioration of bone by developing a treatment of life plan through making changes in their diet, exercise habits and/or medication. Also, this technology more effectively evaluates response to treatment so it may be adjusted accordingly.
Osteoporosis, caused by bone density loss, affects more than twenty-five million Americans and results in more than 1 million hip, spine and wrist fractures annually. The largest group at risk is postmenopausal women.
“New technology such as the bone densitometer allows Sutter North Medical Foundation to help patients by detecting potential problems early. And early detection helps improve the treatment of osteoporosis,” said William G. Hoffman, M.D., Chief Medical Officer for Sutter North Medical Foundation.
Sutter North Medical Foundation encourages individuals to talk with their physician to determine if one should be evaluated for a bone density examination, especially those most at risk, postmenopausal women. For more information, please call Sutter North Medical Foundation’s Imaging Department at 749-3301.
Sutter North Medical Foundation is affiliated with Sutter Health; one of the nation’s leading not-for-profit networks of community based health care providers, delivering high quality care in more than 100 Northern California communities. Sutter Health supports more than two dozen locally run acute care hospitals and physician organizations, medical research facilities, physician and nurse education programs, and region-wide home health, hospice and occupational health services.
Sutter North Medical Foundation is a not-for-profit organization providing health care throughout the Yuba-Sutter community. Their mission is to enhance the health and well-being of people in the communities they serve through compassion and excellence in health care services. With care centers in Brownsville, Wheatland, Loma Rica, Marysville and Yuba City, Sutter North Medical Foundation employs 385 employees.
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