Going for Gold in Europe!

Capture the Fracture highlights champions in secondary fracture prevention

“Our FLS follows the following protocol for primary osteoporosis: Identification and enrollment of all patients over 50 who develop a new fragility fracture; conducting radiological examinations and first-level blood tests to assess fragility risk and assessing for falls risk; providing appropriate support and information about osteoporosis; initiating a therapeutic protocol with constant follow-up, including support through telemedicine. For secondary osteoporosis, specifically for patients with a fragility fracture, particularly hip fractures, our protocol includes: enrolment in the FSL Database with the creation of an electronic file for an appropriate pharmacological therapeutic protocol, or, in case of imminent re-fracture risk, treatment with L.O.E.P.;  follow-up of enrolled patients to monitor adherence to the therapeutic plan.”

Badalona Serveis Assistencials, Badalona, Spain

The Badalona Serveis Assistencials FLS is an integrated healthcare organization, which was set up in order to provide effective assistance and to respond to peoples’ needs in the territory of Barcelonès Nord, including Badalona, a town that lies 6 miles away from Barcelona. The FLS achieved Gold standard in 2015 and sees approximately 180 patients per year, managing all fracture types. Dr José Manuel Cancio Trujillo (geriatric specialist) is one of the mentors and is actively involved in the management of this FLS , which involves several multidisciplinary teams:

“The fracture liaison service activity in our organization involves several teams led by the Department of Geriatrics. Our main objective is to provide a continuity of care to frail older patients with osteoporotic fractures, from the acute and post-acute phases to post-discharge follow-up. After reinsertion into the community, all patients are regularly followed by multidisciplinary staff of the orthogeriatric unit (outpatient care) in order to complete diagnostics and treatment with the objectives of preventing new fractures and maintaining physical function. Our team ensures therapeutic adherence throughout the life of our patients who have already suffered a fragility fracture, to avoid new fractures, avoid an increase in comorbidities, dependency, fragility and mortality.”

Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, l'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain

The FLS of the Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge was recognized as a gold-level service in 2016. The service sees approximately 550 patients each year and manages all fracture types. Dr Carmen Gómez Vaquero, FLS lead, notes:

 

“What initially began as a challenge to achieve the gold standard of care has now become our way of working. We feel that to achieve success, the best approach is identifying the highest possible number of patients with fragility fractures as early as possible, ensuring timely intervention. We believe that our efforts are truly helping to reduce the number of fractures in our population, and that is the best reward we could ask for. This motivates us to keep improving how we care for our patients.”

Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Dr Negrín, Las Palmas, Spain

The Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Dr Negrín FLS achieved Gold in 2014. The public district hospital serves a population of around 400,000 people and the FLS manages approximately  550 patients per year and all fracture types. The service collaborates with 21 primary care centres (255 primary care doctors) as well as with rheumatology, orthopedic and geriatric specialists. Dr Antonio Naranjo Hernández, Adjunct Physician in Rheumatology, is a Capture the Fracture® mentor and is actively involved in the management of this FLS along with Dr. Soledad Ojeda, Rheumatologist.

“To achieve excellence, we believe that it has been essential to be sure that what we did made sense. Quality secondary fracture prevention lies in honest and humble work with a focus on the healthcare area and not only on the hospital.  Collaboration between professionals is very positive to achieve the success of an FLS.”

Center of Bone Diseases, Lausanne University Hospital CHUV,  Lausanne, Switzerland

The CHUV FLS  achieved Gold in 2013 and was the first FLS from Switzerland to achieve this milestone. The FLS manages approximately 650 patients per year and all fracture types. Lead clinician Prof. Berengere Aubry-Rozier, rheumatologist, says:

Osteoporose Zentrum Luzern, Lucern, Switzerland

The Osteoporosis Zentrum Luzern, part of the Clinic Hirslanden, has been a Gold-level service since 2020. It see approximately 670 patients (all fracture types) each year, with the goal of improving care patient care and secondary fracture prevention.

 

“Using multiple pathways simultaneously (e.g. reaching out to patients for post-fracture treatment, to colleagues for collaboration, to IT systems for data collection, to the hospital director with a business plan) and perseverance helped us the most to get to the goal and reach the gold standard. Quality post-fracture care and secondary fracture prevention equates to a relevant, better quality of life and a significant reduction of further fractures in patients who already have suffered a fragility fracture.”

West Glasgow ACH, Glasgow, UK

West Glasgow ACH, formerly the Western Infirmary which closed in 2015, joined the Capture the Fracture® network in 2020. Among the strategies to reach its Gold standard level of service the FLS uses a specifically designed fracture identification database (Redstar) to identify patients with fractures quickly and to develop a management plan which may include a DXA scan and bone protective treatment. This allows the FLS to identify the right patients at the right time to deliver the right treatment plan.

“Early equitable access to osteoporosis assessment and treatment is vital to reduce the risk of subsequent fractures. We ensure that in West Glasgow this happens!”