Mobile osteo labs come to regional Australia

CEO of the Regional Australia Institute, Su McCluskey, undertakes an osteoporosis scan in the MeasureUp head office in Sydney

An estimated 1.2 million Australians have osteoporosis, and a further 6.3 million suffer from low bone density, yet many patients remain undiagnosed and at risk. Considering the startling fact that 25 per cent of people with a hip fracture die within 12 months, the need for the early recognition and treatment of this disease is critical. This is particularly important within regional and rural Australia, where access to radiology services can be limited.

To help improve early detection rates nation-wide, Sydney based organisation MeasureUp has been rolling out a mobile scan service to regional and remote Australia since 2009. Now with a fleet of 10 vehicles fully equipped with specialised radiology labs, MeasureUp has scanned in excess of 60,000 Australians across seven states and territories, with the service set to start in Western Australia early next year.

The mobile service provides a complete diagnostic bone density service; a ten minute process undertaken by trained health professionals. The scans are then sent to the MeasureUp radiology lab for assessment in Sydney, and the results passed to the patient’s General Practitioner. The service is bulk billed, at no cost to the patient or the local practice. Health facilities, community centres and nursing homes can request a visit from one of the mobile services via the MeasureUp website.

Director of MeasureUp, Dr Jarrod Meerkin, says that ease of access to health services is crucial for regional Australians at risk of the disease. “The earlier the detection of osteoporosis or low bone density, the better the available treatment will be, particularly through dietary and fitness interventions. As there are few symptoms for the disease, however, many people don’t realise until it’s too late”.

Dr Meerkin says the service is not just for the elderly – the mobile labs also offer body composition scans that breakdown the muscle, bone and fat ratio of a patient. This service, which has been popular with regional gyms and training facilities, helps put people on the front-foot of reducing the risk of osteoporosis and low bone density by promoting a healthy, active lifestyle.

If you’re interested in having a MeasureUp mobile lab visit your region,
visit the organisation’s website or call 02 8821 7111 for more information.