Preventing the Next Fracture: Expanding Access to Fracture Liaison Services across British Columbia

Broken bones (fractures) occurring in older adults after minor injury are a frequent result of osteoporosis and can negatively affect quality of life, independence and even result in death. One fracture often leads to more fractures. Treatment can prevent future fractures but less than 20% of Canadians receive these treatments after a fracture. Our research aims for all older adults in British Columbia (BC) to receive prevention treatments after a fracture. Research shows that Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) is the best way to achieve this aim. In FLS, a health provider educates patients and starts prevention treatments while the orthopedic team cares for the fracture. Our research answered: How to develop FLS in BC and adapt it in different situations? What policies ensure everyone can benefit, recognizing factors such as language, culture, geography and gender? We developed and tested FLS at one BC hospital and then spread this successful FLS model to two new hospitals. We are now studying how to spread FLS in BC. Our goal is to ensure that older adults have equal access to FLS to reduce repeat fractures, to improve quality of life and maintain independence and decrease related health costs.