R.E.M.S.
Radiofrequency echographic multispectrometry. An ultrasound probe calculates bone density from how sound waves interact with your bone — no ionizing radiation at any point.
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Northvale, NJ
Osteoporosis screening in Northvale: R.E.M.S. bone density scans at Bostdia
Bone loss usually has no symptoms until something breaks. Here is what a radiation-free scan can show you while there is still time to act — and what the visit actually involves.
Why osteoporosis is worth screening for
Osteoporosis is often described as a silent condition, and the description is accurate. Bone weakens gradually and without pain. There is no ache to notice, no stiffness to mention at a check-up — nothing that prompts a visit. For many people the first sign is a fracture from a fall that shouldn't have caused one.
A bone density scan is the test that interrupts that sequence. It shows where your bone density stands while there is still time to do something about it — through medication, through changes in activity and nutrition, or simply through knowing that a repeat scan in a year is worth doing.
That is the whole argument for screening: you find out before the fracture, not after.
What Bostdia does — and what it doesn't
Bostdia is a Medical Diagnostic Imaging Center at 244 Livingston St Ste E in Northvale, and it has a deliberately narrow focus. It performs one test: the R.E.M.S. ultrasound bone density scan. It does not offer traditional DEXA scans.
If you're looking for osteoporosis screening in the Northvale area, that focus is the thing to understand before you book. It means a visit here leads to one specific kind of scan, performed by ultrasound technicians who do it all day, in an office set up for that one procedure.
DEXA
The traditional dual-energy X-ray test. It uses a low dose of ionizing radiation. R.E.M.S. is a radiation-free alternative to it, not a version of it.
Why no radiation matters more than it sounds. Bone health is something you watch over years, not a single point in time. With no radiation exposure, a scan can be repeated as often as your physician recommends. That is what makes monitoring practical — and why the R.E.M.S. Test suits repeat scans rather than being a one-off.
Bostdia lists this procedure under several names — bone density scan, bone density test, osteoporosis screening, osteoporosis bone density scan, bone density scan for women, physician-referred bone density testing. They all refer to the same R.E.M.S. scan, and a Bone Fragility Score comes from it too.
What the scan actually feels like
Most people arrive expecting something like an MRI or CT — a machine, a table, a change of clothes. It isn't that. A technician passes an ultrasound probe over the surface of your skin at your lower back and hip. You stay clothed the whole time, lifting your shirt only enough to reach the area being scanned.
- What you wear
- You stay clothed. You lift your shirt as needed for the probe.
- Equipment
- An ultrasound probe — no large scanner to lie inside.
- Radiation
- None. Ultrasound waves only.
- Time
- Typically 10 to 15 minutes.
- Your results
- Available the same day.
- Your physician's copy
- Sent the same day for their review, prepared around their needs.
Because the method is consistent from visit to visit, the R.E.M.S. Test supports reliable comparisons between repeat scans. That matters: a number on its own tells you where you stand, but change between two scans is what tells your physician whether something is holding steady or moving in the wrong direction.
Before you come: arrive fasted
Please come with an empty stomach. We ask patients to arrive fasted because it gives us the most precise, clearest scan images — so plan your meal timing around your appointment.
- Bring your physician's referral if you have one — recommended, not required.
- No need to stop any medications.
- Nothing to change out of.
Your physician decides what the numbers mean. The scan is a measurement, not a treatment plan. Follow-up timing depends on your results — it may be suggested in six months, or annually, depending on severity. Because there is no radiation, your physician can choose the interval that fits your situation.
Who should consider a scan
Bostdia points to four groups who may benefit from having their bone density checked. If you recognise yourself in any of them, it's worth a conversation with your physician.
Women 50 and older
Bone loss accelerates after menopause. Guidelines point to a baseline scan at 65, or earlier when other risk factors are in play.
Men 65 and older
Men lose bone density too, and fractures in men tend to be more serious. Screening for men is frequently overlooked.
Anyone who has fractured
A broken bone from a minor fall is a red flag worth investigating, not just treating. A scan gives your doctor something to act on.
Anyone on long-term medication
Steroids, PPIs and some other medications affect bone. Repeat scans show whether your density is holding or changing.
A note on the two ages for women, since they appear together: 50 is when bone loss tends to accelerate after menopause and is worth paying attention to; 65 is the baseline-scan age cited in guidelines, with earlier testing when risk factors are present. Your physician can tell you where you fit.
How to book
Call Bostdia's front desk at 833-454-7263. A referral isn't required — you're welcome to book directly. We do highly recommend having one: with your physician's referral on file we can prepare the report in line with what your doctor needs for your care, and we send it to them the same day as your scan.
The front desk team answers calls, books appointments, checks patients in, and sends documentation on to referring providers — so if you do have a physician, their details become part of the process from your first call.
Where to find us
Bostdia
244 Livingston St Ste E
Northvale, NJ 07647
For more on the visit itself, read preparing for your scan or how to read your bone density results.
How Bostdia came to offer R.E.M.S.
Bostdia didn't start as an imaging center. It began offering non-medicated support for people with weak or brittle bones, fall risks, osteoarthritis and osteoporosis — often women from around 45 to 50 onward — through OsteoStrong, where clients worked on strength and bone density.
Seeing the challenges of routine DEXA scans is what led the business to add a radiation-free option that could be repeated consistently. Today the R.E.M.S. Test is the only scan Bostdia performs.
Common questions
Where is Bostdia located for osteoporosis screening in Northvale?
Bostdia is at 244 Livingston St Ste E, Northvale, NJ 07647 — a Medical Diagnostic Imaging Center focused on one type of screening. That Livingston Street office is where every R.E.M.S. ultrasound bone density scan is performed.
Does Bostdia offer traditional DEXA scans for bone density testing?
No. Bostdia performs only R.E.M.S. ultrasound bone density scans, which use ultrasound waves rather than the low-dose radiation used in DEXA. R.E.M.S. is a radiation-free alternative to DEXA, not a version of it.
Do I need a referral to book a bone density scan at Bostdia?
No referral is required — you can book directly by calling 833-454-7263. We do highly recommend one: with your physician's referral on file we can prepare the report in line with what your doctor needs for your care, and we send it to them the same day as your scan.
How should I prepare for a R.E.M.S. bone density scan?
Come with an empty stomach. We ask patients to arrive fasted so the scan images are as precise and clear as possible, so plan your meal timing around your appointment. You stay clothed throughout, and there is no need to stop any medications.
How long does the scan take, and when do I get my results?
The scan typically takes 10 to 15 minutes. Your results are available the same day — you don't wait days for an answer — and we also send a copy to your referring physician for review.
What names does Bostdia use for its bone density testing services?
Bostdia lists the same R.E.M.S. ultrasound procedure under several names, including bone density scan, bone density test, osteoporosis screening, osteoporosis bone density scan, bone density scan for women, and physician-referred bone density testing. A Bone Fragility Score is also among its services — all referring to the same scan.
Ready to know where you stand?
A radiation-free R.E.M.S. bone density scan in Northvale, NJ. About 15 minutes, results the same day.
Coming from another town? See directions from Closter, Norwood and Old Tappan.