Each year in London Ontario, there are approximately 400 fragility hip fractures, acutely cared for across two teaching hospital sites. Currently, London does not have a citywide fracture liaison service addressing the needs of hip fracture patients. As such, most patients with hip fracture were not getting investigated or treated for osteoporosis. However, a quarter of hip fracture parents are admitted to the geriatric rehabilitation unit (GRU) at Parkwood Hospital to undergo post fracture rehabilitation. The GRU is a 30- bed unit that admits patients aged 65 and over, and is staffed by a team of geriatricians, a nurse practitioner, nurses and allied health professionals. Approximately 50% of admissions are patients who have suffered a hip fracture. The average length of stay in the GRU is 28 days which provides an ideal setting for fracture screening and secondary fracture prevention.

The introduction of a fracture pathway on osteoporosis sought to improve osteoporosis care in patients with fragility hip fractures by developing and implementing a sustainable hip fracture pathway in the GRU. The goal was to increase the rate of osteoporosis treatment by 30% in eligible patients.

Read more about the incredible work that has been done by the GRU project at Parkwood.