Healthy Bones Team Launches Fracture Care Initiative
Bon Secours Richmond Health System’s Healthy Bones Team, ambulance composed of medical experts from several different disciplines and practice areas, ailment believes that it’s time to break the trend of osteoporosis and decrease bone fractures in adults of all ages. Some staggering statistics on osteoporosis (derived from Greek words meaning “porous bone”) add plenty of backbone to the team’s mission to prevent first-time and repeat fractures from occurring:
Bon Secours Richmond Health System’s Healthy Bones Team, composed of medical experts from several different disciplines and practice areas, believes that it’s time to break the trend of osteoporosis and decrease bone fractures in adults of all ages. Some staggering statistics on osteoporosis (derived from Greek words meaning “porous bone”) add plenty of backbone to the team’s mission to prevent first-time and repeat fractures from occurring:
- About half of women over age 50, and about one in five men, will break a bone due to osteoporosis
- Men are twice as likely as women to die in the year following a hip fracture
- Osteoporosis causes an estimated two million broken bones each year
- About 54 million Americans age 50 and older are at risk of osteoporosis
“Fractures of any kind, especially if the patient is age 45 or older, should be identified as a possible indicator for osteoporosis, which can easily be determined with a bone density scan,” said Alan Stern, M.D., FACR, FACP, director of the Bon Secours Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Richmond. “Once diagnosed with osteoporosis, patients can learn about a variety of treatment options that may or may not include medications. Our goal is to educate all hospital systems about the importance of implementing a structured framework of care for fracture patients that will help prevent repeat fractures.”
Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital is already working with multidisciplinary fracture teams to lead this effort for Bon Secours Richmond Health System. Brenda Gemmell, RN, orthopaedic program coordinator at St. Mary’s Hospital, has been collaborating on the Healthy Bones Team initiative to create a process for referrals and follow-up care for osteoporosis.
“We started with hip fracture patients because that type of fracture can have devastating results, but ultimately we want all fragility fracture patients to be referred for follow-up to determine if they are at risk of osteoporosis,” Gemmell said. “The process developed by the Healthy Bones Team spans the complete continuum of fracture care, starting with a referral to a primary care physician or to a specialty center like Dr. Stern’s, then creating a full-scope treatment plan to decrease the risk of subsequent fractures. The treatment plan includes such things as assessing osteoporosis risk through bone density scans, lab tests and beginning medication therapy if needed.”
Tips to Prevent Falls and Fractures
- Remove or secure throw rugs
- Keep stairs free of clutter
- Use handrails on stairs
- Install grab bars in the bathroom beside the tub, shower and toilet
- Consider using a shower chair or bench and a hand-held showerhead to bathe
- Keep a flashlight at your bedside
- Place a nightlight between the bedroom and bathroom
- Place items you use most often within easy reach
- Do not get up too quickly after eating, sitting or lying flat
- If you are unsteady on your feet, use a cane or walker as needed
Provided by the Healthy Bones Team at Bon Secours Richmond Health System. To learn more, visit the National Osteoporosis Foundation at nof.org.
