New online platform facilitates recognition for Fracture Liaison Services

The International Osteoporosis Foundation’s (IOF) Capture the Fracture^® program has launched a new, enhanced online platform to enable coordinated post-fracture care services (including ‘Fracture Liaison Services’, or FLS) to receive free assessment and global recognition of their services.

Capture the Fracture^® (CTF) is an IOF initiative to facilitate the implementation of coordinated, multi-disciplinary models of care for secondary fracture prevention, which provides recognition and sets global best practices for post-fracture care services based on the CTF Best Practice Framework (BPF), the internationally-endorsed guidance for excellence in secondary fracture prevention.

CTF invites FLS worldwide to apply for free assessment against the BPF standards, and to receive global recognition, access to various education and policy resources, as well as access to a network of international experts who can provide mentorship and support. Currently 656 FLS in 49 countries have benefited from this international ‘best practice’ recognition program, more than double the number of participating services since January 2019.

IOF President Professor Cyrus Cooper, stated:

“The new online application process will make participation in the Capture the Fracture program easier than ever. I encourage all hospitals with new or established Fracture Liaison Services to apply and to benefit from expert assessment and prestigious recognition for their service’s achievements.” 

FLS which apply to the CTF program are evaluated against the thirteen BPF standards for four key fragility fracture patient groups – hip fractures, other in-patient fractures, outpatient fractures and vertebral fractures – and on their organizational characteristics. Following expert evaluation, the FLS receives an overall rating of gold, silver, bronze, or blue for those newly established, and the service is awarded a Capture the Fracture^® Best Practice Recognition certification. All FLS, including newly established services which have not yet gathered enough data to enable assessment, are featured on the interactive CTF Map of Best Practice.

Apply for global recognition and a prestigious Certificate of Achievement

With the new online platform, applying FLS are able to create a personalized account so that the Best Practice Framework Questionnaire can be completed in multiple steps at their own convenience. The FLS will also be able to follow-up on their assessment submission through their personal account and easily update their data to facilitate re-assessment in the future.

The online questionnaire has been launched in English, Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese and French. It will soon be accessible in other languages, including Dutch and Russian.
Applying programs will benefit from the following:

• Visibility and recognition for their PFC Coordination Program/FLS on the CTF international and interactive Map of Best Practice;
• Peer-review of their PFC Coordination Program/FLS by the CTF Steering Committee and benchmarking for FLS against the internationally endorsed Best Practice Framework, highlighting service’s strengths and areas for improvement;
• Use of the IOF-approved Capture the Fracture^® Best Practice Recognition logo on their service’s website and materials;
• Access to a wide range of resources and tools, as well as a network of international experts who can share their expertise and also provide mentorship and support.

Professor Cooper added:

“Although half of patients presenting with hip fractures have suffered a prior ‘warning’ fracture, healthcare systems are still failing to act following the first fracture. The majority of fragility fracture patients are neither assessed nor treated to reduce their risk of a future fracture. IOF believes that the implementation of coordinated post-fracture care programs such as FLS is the best way to close this inacceptable osteoporosis care gap.”

“We call on hospitals worldwide to implement post-fracture care programs, and invite them to join the Capture the Fracture® program.”

IMAGE: COMPLETE THE BEST PRACTICE FRAMEWORK QUESTIONNAIRE TO APPLY FOR CAPTURE THE FRACTURE® RECOGNITION AND ASSESSMENT FOR YOUR FRACTURE LIAISON SERVICE. view more 

CREDIT: INTERNATIONAL OSTEOPOROSIS FOUNDATION