The Fragility and Stability Program is comprised of clinicians, researchers, and patients dedicated to improving bone health and care for people with fragility fractures, including hip fractures.
Their work encompasses the full continuum of care from bone health promotion and prevention of secondary fracture to hospital care for fragility fractures and ongoing care following a hip fracture.
Work in this area is focused on creating better ways to improve bone health by identifying and treating osteoporosis early.
The Catch a Break prevention program has been successfully launched through Alberta Health Services – Health Link to help Albertans identify osteoporosis early.
Catch a Break identifies Albertans who have suffered a low-trauma fragility fracture and encourages them to talk to their doctors about bone health. The goal of the program is to help Albertans prevent future bone fractures that may be related to osteoporosis.
The main objective of this pathway is to improve care for hip fracture patients by decreasing their wait times for surgery and improving their experience throughout their acute care journey.
This pathway expands care for hip fracture patients beyond the walls of the hospital and creates a smoother transition for patients by identifying the appropriate care at the right time and in the most efficient manner.
The goal of the pathway is to support patients’ and families’ needs for the transition of care and contribute to better patient care, increased patient and family satisfaction, and reduced caregiver burnout.
This service aims to reduce the risk of future fractures by optimizing management of bone health/osteoporosis as well as fall prevention strategies, both in acute care and in the community for one year post-fracture.
Fracture Liaison Services have been implemented at a number of sites in Alberta. Each program is comprised of dedicated clinicians who use the following model as outlined by Osteoporosis Canada: