Asheville, North Carolina—October 26, 2020 – Each year, the International Osteoporosis Foundation kicks off a new campaign with World Osteoporosis Day on October 20, launching a year-long campaign dedicated to raising global awareness of the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease. This year’s campaign, “That’s Osteoporosis,” aims to put bone, muscle and joint health on the global health agenda and reaches out to healthcare professionals, the media, policy makers and the public at large.

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. Unfortunately, only about 20 percent of the nearly two million individuals who experience fragility fractures each year are tested or treated for osteoporosis.

Those fractures are costly; nearly $18 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 percent 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 healthcare.

Mission Hospital’s Fracture Prevention Program Is Leading the Way in Post-Fracture Patient Care

Mission Hospital’s Fracture Prevention Program 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. Mission Hospital joins over 260 healthcare institutions nationwide that have implemented 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, Mission Hospital 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.

Mission Hospital is proud to announce they have received an Own the Bone Star Performer designation for the upcoming year, an achievement reserved only for institutions that perform the highest level of fragility fracture and bone healthcare. Own the Bone Star Performers like Mission Hospital must achieve a 75 percent 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, falls prevention, limiting alcohol intake and quitting smoking; 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, Mission Hospital 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 receive this recognition,” said Dr. Adam Kaufman, founder of the Mission Fracture Prevention Clinic. “We recognize that fragility fractures represent a clinical problem both locally and worldwide, and strive to provide the western North Carolina region with the best possible care to improve bone health and quality of life.”

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 healthcare 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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For more information about the Mission Fracture Prevention Program and treatment options, please visit missionhealth.org/fps or call 828-213-1994.