About the Center for Bone Health
Building Strong Bones for a Lifetime
The Center for Bone Health at CHOP was launched in 2008 to meet the needs of children who have or are at risk for fragile bones or abnormalities in bone mineral metabolism. Bone fragility can be caused by a genetic disease directly affecting the skeleton (such as osteogenesis imperfecta) or can be secondary to other chronic diseases that weaken muscle (such as muscular dystrophy), cause inflammation (such as inflammatory bowel disease) or are treated with mediations that damage bone (such as high-dose steroids).
The Center for Bone Health team sees both inpatients and outpatients.
Outpatient service
The Bone Health Outpatient Service allows patients to see multiple providers (physician, nutritionist and physical therapist) all on one day, in one visit, and in the same outpatient setting. The patients undergo a complete evaluation, which consists of a medical assessment by a physician, nutritional assessment by a registered dietitian and physical activity/motor evaluation by a physical therapist. A comprehensive plan of care is put together for each patient, which may include lab tests, imaging studies, nutrition interventions, physical activity recommendations, medical therapies, referral to other specialists and follow-up care as needed.
Inpatient consultation service
Specialists from with the Center for Bone Health provide consultative services to support the bone health of hospitalized infants and children who have or are at risk of bone fragility. Our experts are available to evaluate children throughout the hospital and develop personalized management plans, in collaboration with the primary medical team. If ongoing bone health follow-up is needed after discharge, a follow-up visit in an outpatient Bone Health Clinic will be arranged.
Convenient locations
The Center for Bone Health sees patients on the Philadelphia campus and also at the CHOP Specialty Center, King of Prussia and at CHOP Specialty Care Center at Virtua in Voorhees, NJ.