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Hip Fracture Surgery, Model of Care

Canadian hospitals are in the process of implementing new national hip fracture guidelines developed by Bone and Joint Decade Canada in strategic partnership with the Canadian Orthopaedic Care Strategy Group (COCSG), Health Canada and other expert agencies.

A hip fracture can be a catastrophic event in a person's life. Previously, after incurring a fracture a patient could expect to have a significant decrease in their mobility, quality of life and their ability to return home. The Bone & Joint Health Network (BJHN) has been working under the direction of the Orthopaedic Expert Panel and with input from surgeon's, nurses, physical therapists, and occupational therapist from across the province to develop and implement the newly finalized model of care for patients with a hip fracture. The new provincial hip fracture model focuses on reducing wait times for surgery to 2 days or less, offers best practice care after surgery; and provides earlier access to inpatient rehabilitation for all patients that are medically stable regardless of issues with cognitive impairment.
Patients who were living at home in the community will have access to the rehabilitation that they have previously been denied and for most patients this will mean the opportunity to return home or live in the most appropriate setting. The new hip fracture model of care provides a standardized direction for the Ontario LHINs, hospitals and community to focus planning and implementation so patients and their families receive the absolute best care possible, regardless of where they live in the province.For patients, the Hip Fracture model of care will provide:

• Improved, timely and equal access to care and services;
• Improved access to rehabilitation;
• Improved patient and family education about the model of care and procedures affecting them;
• Improved patient outcomes;
• Improved patient satisfaction.

For the Ontario healthcare system, the Hip Fracture model of care will provide:

• Increased accessibility to care and services;
• Improved integration and seamless patient care;
• Implementation of best practices across multiple settings;
• Improve system linkages across the province to ensure the system is flexible to match patient needs;
• Multiple cost savings and other system efficiencies;

For additional information on hip fracture from The Bone & Joint Health Network (BJHN) and to download a copy of The Hip Fracture Model of Care Toolkit, click here.

To read Mobilize Canada's article "FRACTURED HIPS CAN RESULT IN DEATH IF NOT TREATED WITHIN 48 HOURS" with comments from Dr. James Waddell and Dr. Hans Kreder, click here.