A development grant to improve osteoporosis care for fragility fracture patients has been awarded to British Columbia’s Fraser Health Authority. Funding for “Breaking The Cycle Of Recurrent Fracture: Scaling Up A Fracture Prevention Program In British Columbia” was awarded by the Michel Smith Foundation for Health Research.
Osteoporosis Canada congratulates the project co-leads, Dr. Sonia Singh (FLS Medical Lead, Peace Arch Hospital, Fraser Health), Larry Funnell (patient partner), Tania Bubela (Dean of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University), and Teresa O’Callaghan (executive sponsor, Executive Director Peace Arch Hospital, Fraser Health) and all their team members.
This project will explore how the Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) model implemented at one hospital in BC (Peace Arch Hospital, White Rock) can be successfully adapted and scaled-up to other hospital sites to break the cycle of recurrent fractures.
The evidenced-based FLS model has been recognized and adopted worldwide as the most effective model for preventing recurrent osteoporosis-related fractures in a cost-effective manner. FLS involves a dedicated coordinator who “captures” the patient at the point of orthopedic care for low-trauma fracture and seamlessly integrates secondary fracture prevention into the overall fracture experience. FLS coordinators link up with community family physicians to ensure on-going care and follow-through of the initiated interventions to prevent further fractures.
The Michael Smith Foundation development grant was one of 10 projects chosen in a provincial competition for Implementation Science Research. The Fraser Health team now goes on to the next stage of the competition which is to develop a full grant proposal to roll out Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) at multiple sites in Fraser Health and evaluate implementation over three years. Five projects will be funded in June 2019.
Given the great need for more FLSs, Osteoporosis Canada wishes the team every success with the next round of the competition and increasing uptake of FLS in British Columbia.
