Free talk offers facts on osteoporosis
03 / 28 / 2007
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Maria Nelson, Media Relations
Affinity Health System
(920) 720-1752
(920) 554-0686 (pager)
MENASHA, Wis. – There are many misperceptions about osteoporosis, a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break.
The disease is a major health risk for an estimated 44 million Americans, or 55 percent of people age 50 and older. And while women are four times more likely than men to develop the disease, men also suffer from osteoporosis.
Affinity Health System is offering a free seminar on the facts surrounding osteoporosis at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 17, in the lobby of the Midway Medical Office building, 1550 Midway Place, Menasha.
Dr. Ann Marie Gierl, an Affinity Medical Group physician who specializes in rheumatology, will discuss what osteoporosis is, who it affects and how it is diagnosed and treated. There will also be a DXA scan demonstration. DXA scans measure a person’s bone density.
To register for the free event contact Affinity NurseDirect at 800-362-9900.
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For the Editor:
Affinity Health System, a faith-based regional health care network, is the Fox Valley’s second-largest employer, according to the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce & Industry. For the fourth consecutive year, Affinity has been named one of the nation’s top 64 health systems based on clinical performance according to Thomson Reuters, a leading provider of information and solutions to improve the cost and quality of health care. For ten consecutive years, Affinity Health System has been named to the SDI (formerly Verispan) Integrated Health Network Top 100, an annual assessment of the 100 most highly integrated health care networks in the nation. Both St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton and Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh rank among the top 1 percent of hospitals nationwide in terms of quality and efficiency, as determined by the 2007 Premier | CareScience Select practice National Quality Award. Members of Affinity include Mercy Medical Center and Mercy Health Foundation, Oshkosh; St. Elizabeth Hospital and the St. Elizabeth Hospital Foundation, Appleton; Affinity Medical Group, a regional network of 25 family practice and specialty clinics – 22 of which are recognized as NCQA Level III medical homes, the highest level of recognition – in 14 communities; Calumet Medical Center, Chilton; and Affinity Occupational Health.