Frequently Asked Questions

The following is a compiled list of questions frequently received from customers. You may find valuable information in our responses.

What is the cost of the Flu Shot?

Price varies according to number of Flu Shots administered. Please contact us to obtain pricing for Flu and Pneumonia Shots. Checks, cash and credit cards are accepted.

When and where will FLU Shots be administered?

On-site Flu Clinics may be scheduled. Please email flu@nwosteo.com to schedule a clinic. In addition, Flu Shots are available on a rotating basis at ShopKo pharmacies in Boise, Meridian and Nampa, Idaho. A list of Flu Shot Clinics is available at the customer service desk and at the pharmacy. Look for ads in the Idaho Statesman and Idaho Press Tribune. You may also call NW Health & OsteoScreening for a list of Flu Clinics and Screening Dates at: (208) 378-4584 or visit us online at: www.nwosteo.com

Will Insurance/Medicare be billed?

Insurance/Medicare will NOT be billed; however, forms/receipts are available for reimbursement.

Who is eligible to receive the Influenza (FLU) vaccine?

All individuals 13 years and over. If you are pregnant, not feeling well, or have had prior problems with the flu vaccine, please check with your physician prior to receiving a shot. We will not administer the vaccine to individuals having an allergy to eggs or chicken products, mercury, or having a history of Guillain-Barre.

From what company do you purchase the Influenza vaccine?

NW Health & OsteoScreening purchases the Influenza Vaccine from Novartis and Sanofi Pasteur. The vaccine contains a DEAD virus with only trace amounts of thimerosal, which is a mercury based preservative commonly found in all flu vaccines.

What are the side effects that could occur?*

Soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given, low-grade fever and aches may occur. If these problems occur, they begin soon after the shot and usually last one to two days. Life-threatening allergic reactions are very rare. Signs of serious allergic reaction can include breathing problems, hoarseness or wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, a fast heartbeat or dizziness. If they do occur, it is within a few minutes to a few hours after the shot. These reactions are more likely to occur among individuals with severe allergy to eggs, because the viruses used in the influenza vaccine are grown in hens’ eggs.

What is Guillain-Barre syndrome?*

Normally, about one person per 100,000 people per year will develop Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), an illness characterized by fever, nerve damage and muscle weakness. In 1976, vaccination with the swine flu vaccine was associated with getting GBS. Several studies have been done to evaluate if other flu vaccines since 1976 were associated with GBS. Only one of the studies showed an association. That study suggested that one person out of 1 million vaccinated persons may be at risk of GBS associated with the vaccine.

Where can I obtain more information about the FLU vaccine?

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website: www.cdc.gov/flu or call 1-800-232-2522

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break. If not prevented or if left untreated, osteoporosis can progress painlessly until a bone breaks. These broken bones, also known as fractures, occur typically in the hip, spine, and wrist.

What is a bone density screening?

A bone density test is the best way to find out how strong or weak your bones are before a bone breaks. These safe and painless tests can determine your bone density, which is a measure of bone strength, and can predict your chance of fracture in the future.

How does a bone density screening work?

Northwest Health & OsteoScreening uses the GE Achilles Express from Lunar Corporation.
The Achilles Express measures sound waves as they pass through the heel. Warm water fills membranes that contact your heel to provide a path for the ultrasound energy to follow. Ultrasound gel is placed on your heel. This test takes approximately 1-minute.

Physicians in their offices commonly use this device. It is approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) to screen and monitor patients and has an accuracy rate of 98%.

What does bone density show?

Bone Density is an aid to doctors in the diagnosis of osteoporosis. The test compares your bone quality to that of a "young adult" at peak bone strength. It also compares your results to people of your same age, called "age-matched." Both screening tools use "T-score" and "Z-score", which are World Health Organization criteria for bone density testing. This information along with other factors helps doctors gauge your risk of osteoporotic fracture. You will be given your results in the form of a measurement report immediately following your test along with consultation from a Registered Nurse, Radiologic Technologist or Dietitian.

Who should have a bone density screening?

If you answer "yes" to any of the following questions, you should consider having a bone density screening.

Do any of your close biological relatives suffer from osteoporosis?
Do you weigh less than 127 lbs?
Are you Caucasian or Asian and female?
Did you go through menopause or have your ovaries removed before age 45?
Do you consume less than 3 servings of dairy per day?
Do you have 3 or more 8 oz. caffeinated drinks per day?
Do you exercise less than 3x per week for 30 min?
Do you smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol in excess?
Do you have or have you had an eating disorder?
Have you ever taken any of the following medications? (Steroids, cortisone, thyroid medication or anticonvulsants)

The younger a person is, the more time s/he has to prevent the debilitating effects of osteoporosis, so getting screened while young is essential. In addition, many women will choose to have a bone density test between the ages of 40-50 to obtain a baseline. This screening will provide you and your doctor with additional information in order make an informed decision about hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Who is eligible to have a bone density test under Medicare and will Northwest Health & OsteoScreening bill insurance for this test?

As covered under the Bone Mass Measurement Act (1998), there are five groups of qualified individuals that are covered by Medicare for bone strength testing if such testing is ordered by a treating physician or qualified non-physician practitioner:

An estrogen-deficient woman at clinical risk for osteoporosis
An individual with vertebral abnormalities
An individual receiving long-term glucocorticoid therapy
An individual with primary hyperparathyroidism
An individual being monitored to assess the response to or efficacy of an FDA-approved osteoporosis drug therapy.

Due to the low cost of this test, Northwest OsteoScreening, Inc. does not bill insurance for this service. However, receipts are available for possible reimbursement.

What is measured with a cholesterol screening?

The Full Lipid Panel measures the following:

Total Cholesterol
LDL (bad cholesterol)
HDL (good cholesterol)
Triglycerides (another form of fat in your blood effected by sugars)
Total Cholesterol to HDL ratio
Glucose (diabetes screening)

An 8-hour fast is preferred for the Lipid Panel or at minimum a 4-hour fast. Black coffee, tea and water are fine.

You may also choose to have a less extensive screening instead, which measures Total Cholesterol and Glucose.

Liver Function, Thyroid testing and A1c testing (for diabetes) may also be performed for an additional charge. No fasting is needed for these tests.

How is cholesterol measured?

Northwest Health & OsteoScreening uses the Cholestech LDX from Cholestech Corporation. This device works by collecting whole blood from a simple finger stick. The sample is placed into a lipid and glucose cassette, which separates red blood cells from plasma. Results are available in 5-minutes along with consultation from a Registered Nurse, Radiologic Technologist or Dietitian.

How often should my cholesterol be tested?

You should get your cholesterol tested every 3-5 years, more often if you have high cholesterol levels. A baseline cholesterol screening should be performed in your 20's. Doctors generally recommend testing based on several factors, including age, sex, and medical history. Talk to your doctor about a schedule that's right for you.

How accurate is this cholesterol screening?

The Cholestech LDX System gives you the same level of accuracy and precision that you would get from a clinical lab. The National Cholesterol Education (NCEP) through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has established total error guidelines for lipid tests, which can be used to determine whether the difference between the Cholestech LDX and another method is acceptable. These total error guidelines are as follows:

Analyte	Total Error
Total Cholesterol	8.9%
HDL Cholesterol	13%
LDL Cholesterol	12%
Triglycerides	15%

This means that you can expect 95% (95 out of 100) of the test results in normal individuals to be within these total error guidelines when you compare the LDX results to a method that also meets CDC total error guidelines. The NCEP guidelines should apply to all testing methods regardless of instrument size or testing location.

How does the Omron Body Fat Analyzer work?

The percentage of fat in our bodies is measured by a relatively new method called Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA). BIA measures the resistance of body tissues to the flow of a small, harmless low-level current. Current flows easier through the body tissues that are composed mostly of water, which is over 70% of our body. Bioelectrical impedance measures the strength and speed of the electrical current sent through the body. It then uses this measurement and additional data such as height, weight and gender to calculate the percentage of fat tissues out of the whole body mass.