Humber River Hospital management and staff celebrating national certificate of achievement from Osteoporosis Canada, for its Fracture Screening and Prevention Program (FSPP)

The Humber River Hospital recently received national recognition for completing all eight Essential Elements of Fracture Liaison Services (FLS). The certificate of achievement was in recognition of Humber River Hospital’s partnership with Osteoporosis Canada and the Ontario Osteoporosis Strategy, in implementing the Fracture Screening and Prevention Program, also known as FSPP.

The FSPP is a secondary fracture prevention program developed through the Ontario Osteoporosis Strategy and currently operates in 36 fracture clinic sites across Ontario, including the Humber River Hospital.

This honour acknowledges Canadian hospitals that have implemented and demonstrated a commitment to the principles of identification, investigation and initiation of treatment which ensures that fracture patients receive the care they need to help prevent future fractures.

Evidence suggests that there is a huge care gap for Canadians who break a bone due to osteoporosis: 80% never receive appropriate osteoporosis care, leaving them at substantial risk for further costly, debilitating and often life‐threatening fractures.

The Ontario Osteoporosis Strategy, funded by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care since 2005, works to reduce this care gap within Ontario. Over 8,000 patients are screened annually by the FSPP operating in 36 fracture clinic sites across Ontario. For more information about FSPP and the Ontario Osteoporosis Strategy, visit: www.osteostrategy.on.ca

Osteoporosis Canada’s Fracture Liaison Service, or FLS, promotes and supports the implementation of quality Fracture Liaison Services in jurisdictions across Canada. FLS is a specific model of care which aims at improving osteoporosis care and clinical outcomes for fracture patients while reducing overall healthcare costs by reducing expensive repeat fractures.

The FSPP started at the Humber River Hospital in 2007 and as of September 30, 2017, approximately 1,718 fragility fracture patients have been screened, of which, many have received diagnostic tests and further assessment with a specialist before being referred back to their family doctor for ongoing management and support.