Updated October 18, 2010
What is the NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases ~ National Resource Center (NRC)?
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases ~ National Resource Center, a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides patients, health professionals and the public with an important link to resources and information on metabolic bone diseases including osteoporosis, Paget’s disease of the bone and osteogenesis imperfecta. The NRC is dedicated to increasing the awareness, knowledge and understanding of physicians, health professionals, patients, underserved and at-risk populations (such as Hispanic and Asian women, adolescents, and men) and the general public about the prevention, early detection and treatment of osteoporosis and related bone diseases.
The NRC is supported by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases with contributions from: the National Institute on Aging, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health and the HHS Office on Women’s Health.
What does the NRC do?
The NRC develops and distributes brochures, fact sheets, information packets and other materials related to bone diseases to interested individuals such as patients, health professionals and the general public. Information on risk factors, diagnosis, treatment options, coping strategies and referral to appropriate organizations for additional information is also available.
If you have questions about osteoporosis, Paget’s disease of bone, osteogenesis imperfecta, other bone diseases or bone health, please contact us at:
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NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases ~ National Resource Center
2 AMS Circle
Bethesda, MD 20892-3676
Phone: 202-223-0344
Toll Free: 800-624-BONE (2663)
TTY: 202-466-4315
Fax: 202-293-2356
Email: NIHBoneInfo@mail.nih.gov
Website: http://www.bones.nih.gov
The NRC answers all telephone calls promptly during the hours of, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday. After hours and on weekends and holidays, callers have the opportunity to leave their request and contact information in a voice mail box. Any information that you provide will be kept confidential.
Does the NRC give physician referrals?
Although the NRC cannot make physician referrals, we may be able to refer you to organizations that do make referrals or provide you with information about the different types of physicians that treat your disorder.
Can the NRC give me medical advice by phone or e-mail?
The information specialists at the NRC are trained to help requestors locate NIH materials and other reputable informational resources. They are not health care professionals, and they cannot provide clinical diagnoses, recommend treatment or refer you to health care providers at NIH or elsewhere.
NIH doctors provide medical care only for people who are enrolled in NIH clinical studies. If you would like to be seen at the NIH Clinical Center, please call 800-411-1222 (TTY 866-411-1010) to see if you are eligible to participate in a study at NIH.
The health information that NRC provides cannot substitute for medical expertise and advice. We encourage you to discuss the information you find on our Web site and in our publications with your health care provider.
If you are interested in medications for a bone condition or disease, the following government resources may be helpful:
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U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Toll Free: 888–INFO–FDA (888–463–6332)
Website: http://www.fda.gov
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MedlinePlus
Website: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/
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National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
National Institutes of Health
P.O. Box 7923
Gaithersburg, MD 20898
Phone: 301-519-3153
Toll Free: 888-644-6226
TTY: 866-464-3615
Fax: 866-464-3616
Email: info@nccam.nih.gov
Website: http://nccam.nih.gov
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NIH Office of Dietary Supplements
Phone: 301-435-2920
Website: http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/
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MedlinePlus
Website: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/
How do I know which type of NRC publication is right for me?
NRC publishes health information in a variety of formats for different audiences, such as Spanish, Chinese, easy-to-read, and audio formats.
Easy-to-Read Fast Facts. Written at a sixth to seventh grade reading level in a question-and-answer format, this series is suitable for anyone looking for a quick, basic introduction on a disease or condition. Two to six pages long, Fast Facts are easy to reproduce and are appropriate as a handout in a clinic, doctor’s office, or at a health fair. Many Fast Facts are available in Spanish and some are also available in Chinese and audio (MP3) format.
Easy-to-Read Booklets for Multicultural Audiences. NRC also publishes an easy-to-read booklet, Bone Health for Life, which is targeted to multicultural audiences. La historia de Isabel/Isabel's Story is a bilingual “fotonovela” that tells the story of Isabel, who learns she has osteoporosis after falling and breaking her wrist.
Fact Sheets. These slightly longer fact sheets provide more in-depth coverage of a particular subject. Fact sheets include more statistics and use technical language and are written at a 10th to 12th grade reading level. Some fact sheets are also available in Spanish or Chinese. These publications are appropriate for those interested in a detailed overview of a topic, and can also be used for patient reference materials in a clinical or community setting.
Multicultural Fact Sheets. This series of fact sheets, written at a seventh to eighth grade reading level, is targeted to five separate audiences: African Americans, Hispanics and Latinos, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, American Indians and Alaska Natives and Chinese Americans. The Hispanic and Chinese fact sheets are bilingual. Each has a checklist of risk factors specific to that ethnic group.
Handouts on Health. This series of booklets, each approximately 40 pages in length, offer a comprehensive overview of a condition or disease, including detailed information on its causes and treatment options, as well as research highlights. This series of publications is written at a high school reading level for the general public, and for medical and health professionals to share with their patients.
CD-ROM. Bone Health Information for You and Your Patients contains print-friendly PDF copies of more than 120 NIAMS publications on osteoporosis, osteogenesis imperfecta, Paget’s disease and other bone health topics. Many publications are provided in both Spanish and Chinese. It also contains selected bone health publications from other sources such as the Surgeon General’s Report on Bone Health and Osteoporosis and several publications for health care professionals.
How do I order publications from NRC?
The best way to order an NRC publication is to visit the online shopping cart
on the NRC Web site. There is no charge for these publications. Most NRC fact sheets are available online in PDF format, so they can be downloaded and copied easily. Unlimited copying is permitted. NRC limits the number of titles and copies you can order of booklets. If you need more than what you are permitted to order through the Web site shopping cart, please call the NRC toll-free at 800-624-BONE (2663) (TTY 202-466-4315).
May I have extra copies of a publication for a health fair or to hand out to my patients?
Most NRC fact sheets are available online in PDF format, so they easily can be downloaded and copied. Unlimited copying is permitted. You can request a bulk order of booklets by calling the NRC toll free at 800-624-BONE (2663) (TTY 202-466-4315). Sometimes the NRC still must limit the quantity that can be sent out at a given time. Considerations such as low stock can affect fulfillment.
Where can I find more advanced information on a topic that the NRC covers?
If you are looking for more advanced medical or scientific literature, visit the National Library of Medicine's PubMed database for summaries of research articles. You might also consider visiting a nearby medical university's library to read textbooks on your subject of interest. Visit the National Library of Medicine's MedlinePlus Web site to find a library near you.
You may also ask us. An NRC information specialist might be able to direct you to other, more advanced sources of information. Contact NRC by calling 800-624-BONE (624-2663) (TTY 202-466-4315) or e-mailing NIHBoneInfo@mail.nih.gov. Please include your mailing address and, if possible, a telephone number in your e-mail message
I can’t find information on my topic on the NRC Web site. Where do I go next?
Please contact us – we may be able to help you find what you are looking for. You can contact the NIH ORBD~NRC at 800-624-BONE (2663) (TTY 202-466-4315) or by e-mail at NIHBoneInfo@mail.nih.gov. Please include your mailing address and, if possible, a telephone number in your e-mail message.
Another NIH institute or one of the NRC’s partner organizations might have information about the topic. NIH has 27 Institutes and Centers, and each one has a variety of responsibilities. Sometimes several institutes support different aspects of research on the same disease. To find out which Institute to contact about your topic, visit the NIH Health Information page.
NIH maintains a list of information phone lines on various topics on its Web site. The National Library of Medicine's MedlinePlus site is another good source of health information.
I’m a journalist. Who can I contact for interviews, sources and other media materials?
If you are a member of the media seeking interviews, sources or other materials from NRC, please contact our inquiry response center below and we will promptly route your query to the appropriate person.
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NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases ~ National Resource Center
2 AMS Circle
Bethesda, MD 20892-3676
Phone: 202-223-0344
Toll Free: 800-624-BONE (2663)
TTY: 202-466-4315
Fax: 202-293-2356
Email: NIHBoneInfo@mail.nih.gov
Website: http://www.bones.nih.gov
Can I add a link to NRC site from my Web site?
Yes, please feel free to link to the NRC Web site.
Will NRC add a link to my Web site?
The NRC’s policy is to link only to other Government agencies. We make exceptions in very rare instances.
I'd like to use some text and an illustration from one of the NRC pages. Do I need to get permission first?
The text on the NRC site is in the public domain. You don’t need permission to photocopy, reprint, or otherwise reproduce the text. The NRC appreciates credit if you use NRC text. If you alter or change NRC text, though, please don’t cite NRC as the source; such material is no longer consistent with the NRC-approved original.
Many of the photographs appearing on this site have been purchased from other sources and are copyrighted. The NRC can’t grant anyone permission to reproduce them. Please contact us (NIHBoneInfo@mail.nih.gov) to find out if the illustration or photograph you would like to reproduce is in the public domain.
The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) maintains an online image database from which you can download NIAMS images. NIAMS is one partner supporting the NRC. All items appearing in the image database are in the public domain. You may reproduce them as you wish. NIAMS appreciates it if you credit NIAMS as the source of the illustration or photograph.
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