Huntington Hospital Earns National Recognition

Dr. James Gurtowski

By Connor Beach
cbeach@longislandergroup.com

The American Orthopaedic Association recently named Huntington Hospital’s orthopaedic program as an “Own the Bone Star Performer” in fragility fracture care, a national recognition for the program’s fracture care and prevention measures.

Dr. James Gurtowski, chairman of the department, said the hospital is one of 200 nationwide to receive “Star Performer” status for providing the highest quality of fragility fracture and bone health care.

Gurtowski initiated the program, with the help of the hospital’s Executive Director Dr. Gerard Brogan, to treat fragility fractures and help prevent repeat fractures.

“It underscores the hospital’s commitment to providing comprehensive care to the osteoporotic population,” Gurtowski said. “The program ensures that patients will not only receive the proper diagnosis, but also the treatment necessary to prevent the secondary fractures.”

Gurtowski said that over 2 million people every year in the U.S. suffer a fragility fracture due to decreased bone density.

“We monitor every patient who comes into the hospital with a fracture related to osteoporosis, and make sure that they get directed to the correct testing,” Gurtowski said.

An important part of the program, Gurtowski said, is continued communication with the patient’s primary care physician regarding the fragility fracture. This allows the primary care physician to investigate any treatable causes of osteoporosis before the patient has their next fracture.

Gurtowski said women over the age of 50 of Caucasian or Asian descent are the most susceptible group for decreased bone density.

Gurtowski suggested that patients with certain risk factors, including family history of osteoporosis, should quit smoking, reduce alcohol consumption, participate in weight-bearing exercise and increase calcium and vitamin D intake to reduce the risk of suffering a fragility fracture. He added that falls by elderly patients was one of the most prevalent causes of fragility fractures.

“Patients can participate in low impact aerobics, swimming, yoga and balance exercises, and they should exercise at least four days a week,” Gurtowski said.

The national recognition demonstrates that patients do not have to travel outside of Huntington to receive top class bone health care.

“We are very proud of the program,” Gurtowski said. “We want to provide a comprehensive treatment for the members of the Huntington community, and they should know that they can come to Huntington with the confidence that they are going to have a full spectrum of care.”

Huntington Hospital was first named a fragility fracture prevention initiative hospital in 2015, and it is the only hospital in the Northwell Health system to receive the Star Performer designation.