Infusion Care for Osteoporosis What Patients Should Know

Osteoporosis can silently weaken bones long before a fracture happens. In this episode of Baptist Health Talk, host Johanna Gomez talks with April Tchumy, orthopedic nurse practitioner with the Bone Health and Fracture Prevention Program at Baptist Health, about how infusion care and injection therapies can help protect bone health and reduce fracture risk. Many people hear “infusion care” and think of cancer treatment, ports and hours in a chair. But for osteoporosis, infusion and injection treatments can look very different — and may be an important option for patients at higher risk of fractures.

In this episode:
 • How osteoporosis is diagnosed through bone density screening
 • When screening may be needed before the standard age guidelines
 • The difference between oral medications, IV infusions and injections
 • Why some patients may need bone-building treatments first
 • Common side effects and what patients can expect
 • How calcium, vitamin D and strength training support bone health
 • Why preventing hip and spine fractures is such a major treatment goal
 • How treatment success is measured over time

Host: Johanna Gomez, award-winning host & journalist

Guest: April Tschumy, APRN, ONP-C, metabolic bone specialist, Baptist Health Orthopedic Care