Summit, Madison and New Providence residents age 35 and older can get a free bone density screening on Thursday, Sept. 17, at the Library of the Chathams, 214 Main St. in Chatham.
Atlantic Health System and the Westfield Regional Health Department are partnering on the event, which runs from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., according to Patch. The test takes five minutes. Appointments must be booked in advance by calling 973-593-3079 and choosing Option 2.
The screening uses an ultrasound measurement of the heel or wrist to estimate fracture risk and flag signs of osteoporosis. It is open to residents of Chatham Borough, Fanwood, Garwood, Madison, Mountainside, New Providence, Roselle Park, Summit and Westfield.
The test is not appropriate for people already diagnosed with osteoporosis.
A recurring regional program
The Sept. 17 screening is part of a series the two organizations have run across the region. The Borough of Madison announced on Instagram in June that the same partnership held a screening in Madison on June 25 using the same ultrasound method and registration line.
Atlantic Health System operates Overlook Medical Center in Summit and Atlantic Rehabilitation Institute in Madison.
What the screening can and can't tell you
The peripheral ultrasound used at community events like this one can estimate fracture risk but is less precise than a central DXA scan of the spine or hip, according to the Mayo Clinic. If results show low bone density, a follow-up scan with a physician is typically the next step.
Osteoporosis affected roughly 12.6% of U.S. adults over 50, according to CDC data from 2017–2018. Among women 65 and older, the rate was 27.1%.
How to register
- What: Free bone density screening (ultrasound)
- When: Thursday, Sept. 17, 10:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
- Where: Library of the Chathams, 214 Main St., Chatham, NJ
- Who: Residents age 35+ from Summit, Madison, New Providence, Chatham Borough, Fanwood, Garwood, Mountainside, Roselle Park and Westfield
- Register: Call 973-593-3079, Option 2 (required in advance)
