The Bone Bus

Know how healthy your bones are

The Bone Bus is a mobile bone densitometry service providing accurate, reliable, and precise bone mineral density measurement service. Clients do not need to travel to a major hospital or radiology lab to have their bone density measured. The mobile Bone Bus will be available at both DPV Health Medical Centres on the dates below:

April 2022 – Dates to be confirmed

What does it cost?

This service is bulk-billed with no gap for people aged 70 and over.

If you have had a bone density scan elsewhere in the last 12 months, you do not need a scan now. The scan takes just 2 minutes, is painless, and fully clothed.

How to book:

Step 1: Book an appointment with a DPV Health doctor for a bone density scan referral. To book call 1300 234 263 or online at Broadmeadows or Mill Park.

Step 2: Call MeasureUp on 1800 10 11 63 to book your bone density scan. Please have your doctor’s referral and Medicare Card with you when calling.

Step 3: Visit the “Bone Bus” at your booked time

What is bone density testing for?

Osteoporosis is a condition in which the bones become fragile and brittle, leading to a higher risk of fractures (breaks or cracks) than in normal bone. Osteoporosis occurs when bones lose minerals, such as calcium, more quickly than the body can replace them, leading to a loss of bone thickness (bone mass or density). As a result, bones become thinner and less dense, so that even a minor bump or accident can cause serious fractures. These are known as fragility or minimal trauma fractures.

Image source: www.measureup.com.au

Any bone can be affected by osteoporosis, but the most common sites are bones in the hip, spine, wrist, ribs, pelvis, and upper arm. Osteoporosis usually has no signs or symptoms until a fracture happens – this is why osteoporosis is often called the ‘silent disease’.

“In Australia, Every 3.6 minutes someone is admitted to hospital with an osteoporotic fracture. By 2022 there will be 1 fracture every 2.9 minutes”