AdventHealth Zephyrhills Recognized for Fragility Fracture Patient Care on World Osteoporosis Day

October 20, 2023 — Zephyrhills, FL — Each year, clinicians and health professionals come together on October 20 for World Osteoporosis Day to help increase the awareness and prevention of osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease. This global effort is aimed to help the general public understand the risk factors associated with this condition and make the lifestyle changes needed to build strong bones for life.

More that 54 million Americans already have osteoporosis or are at a high risk due to low bone mass, according to The American Orthopaedic Association, and most will go undiagnosed or untreated. Due to an aging population, the number of Americans with osteoporosis or low bone density is expected to increase signi­ficantly.

A broken bone, also known as an osteoporotic or fragility fracture, is a serious complication of osteoporosis and often the first sign that a person has the disease. One in two women and one in four men will break a bone in their lifetime due to osteoporosis. Unfortunately, less than half of the nearly two million individuals who experience fragility fractures each year are tested or treated for osteoporosis.

Those fractures are costly - nearly $19 billion in related costs every year. By 2025, experts predict those numbers to rise to nearly three million fractures and $25.3 billion in costs each year.

Failing to prevent future fractures can be deadly; nearly 25% of patients who suffer a hip fracture die within a year. The majority who do survive experience a loss of independence and often require long-term nursing home care.

It’s time to address this silent public health epidemic in health care.

AdventHealth Zephyrhills Leading the Way in Post-Fracture Patient Care / Own the Bone®

AdventHealth Zephyrhills has taken steps to ensure its osteoporotic fracture patients receive the treatment and care they deserve through participation in The American Orthopaedic Association’s Own the Bone® quality improvement (QI) program. AdventHealth Zephyrhills joins over 300 health care institutions nationwide that have participated in Own the Bone and taken initiative to ensure their osteoporotic fracture patients receive the treatment and care they deserve. Through the Own the Bone program and its national web-based quality improvement registry, AdventHealth Zephyrhills has been provided with the tools to establish a fracture liaison service (FLS) and to document, track, and benchmark care of fragility fracture patients. Through an FLS program, a care coordinator, such as a nurse or physician’s assistant, ensures that fragility fracture patients are identified, evaluated, and treated.

AdventHealth Zephyrhills is proud to announce they have received an Own the Bone Star Performer designation this year, an achievement reserved only for institutions that perform the highest level of fragility fracture and bone health care. Own the Bone Star Performers like AdventHealth Zephyrhills must achieve a 75% compliance rate with at least 5 of the 10 Own the Bone prevention measures including: educating patients on the importance of calcium and vitamin D, physical activity, fall prevention, limiting alcohol intake, and smoking cessation; recommending and initiating bone mineral density testing; discussing pharmacotherapy and treatment (when applicable); and providing written communication to the patient and their physician regarding specific risk factors and treatment recommendations.

Through our participation in Own the Bone and recognition as an Own the Bone Star Performer, AdventHealth Zephyrhills has demonstrated a commitment to helping patients understand their risk for future fractures and the steps they can take to prevent them.

“We are honored to be recognized as an Own the Bone Star Performer,” said Becky Munger, RN, Nurse Manager and Program Coordinator for the Bone and Joint Center at AdventHealth Zephyrhills. “Our team members and physicians are dedicated to providing world-class care and critical education for our orthopedic patients to help prevent future fractures. This recognition demonstrates our commitment to patient safety and whole-person care.”

What can people do to protect their bones?

• Get adequate calcium and vitamin D, either through diet or supplements, if necessary.
• Engage in regular weight bearing and muscle strengthening exercise.
• Prevent falls around the home and be careful of stairs, railings, clutter, etc.
• Avoid smoking and limit alcohol intake to 2-3 drinks per day.

Have you or a loved one had a broken bone over age 50? Talk to your health care provider and get a bone density screening to determine if osteoporosis might be the cause and learn additional steps you might need to take to prevent future fractures.

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About AdventHealth Zephyrhills

AdventHealth Zephyrhills is a 149-bed acute care hospital and is a member of the faith-based AdventHealth System, providing a connected network of care in nearly a dozen states with more than 50 hospitals and hundreds of care sites. Since 1985, the hospital has provided award-winning care with a mission to extend the healing ministry of Christ. The hospital offers a wide variety of services to include heart care, orthopedics, women’s health, surgical care, digestive health, robotic technology, a 24/7 emergency room with online scheduling and more. With a focus on whole-person care, skilled and compassionate caregivers provide individualized care for body, mind and spirit. To learn more about the hospital’s services, visit AHZephyrhills.com.

About the AOA

Founded in 1887, The American Orthopaedic Association (AOA) is the oldest orthopaedic association in the world. At its core is its mission: "Engaging the orthopaedic community to develop leaders, strategies, and resources to guide the future of musculoskeletal care.” For more information, visit www.aoassn.org or call Call847-318-7336.