2. Fig. 2 Defining the scope of an FLS and expansion of fracture population assessed [1] n.b. The ultimate goal of an FLS is to
capture 100 % of fragility fracture sufferers. This figure recognises that development of FLS may be incremental The core objectives of an FLS are: 1. Inclusive case finding 2. Evidence-based assessment—stratify risk, identify secondary causes of osteoporosis, tailor therapy 3. Initiate treatment in accordance with relevant guidelines 4. Improve long-term adherence with therapy The operational characteristics of a comprehensive FLS have been described as follows [1]. The FLS will ensure fracture risk assessment, and treatment where appropriate, is delivered to all patients presenting with fragility fractures in the particular locality or institution. The service will be comprised of a dedicated case selleck chemicals worker, often a clinical nurse specialist, who works to preagreed protocols to case-find and assess fracture patients. The FLS can be based in secondary Selleck Dibutyryl-cAMP or primary care and requires support from a medically qualified practitioner, be they a hospital doctor with expertise in fragility fracture prevention or
a primary care physician with a specialist interest. The structure of a hospital-based FLS in the UK was presented in a national consensus guideline on fragility fracture care as shown in Fig. 3 [73]. Fig. 3 The operational structure of a hospital-based Fracture Liaison Service [73] Asterisk (*) older patients, where appropriate, are identified Bacterial neuraminidase and referred for falls assessment FLS have been established in a growing number of countries NVP-BGJ398 research buy including Australia [11, 12, 74–76], Canada
[13, 77–79], Ireland [80], the Netherlands [81–84], Singapore [26], Spain [85], Sweden [86, 87], Switzerland [88], the United Kingdom [3–7] and the USA [89–92]. FLS have been reported to be cost-effective by investigators in Australia [10], Canada [14, 93], the United Kingdom [94] and the USA [15], and by the Department of Health in England [95]. In 2011, the IOF published a position paper on coordinator-based systems for secondary fracture prevention [96] which was followed in 2012 by the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research Secondary Prevention Task Force Report [97]. These major international initiatives underscore the degree of consensus shared by professionals throughout the world on the need for FLS to be adopted and adapted for implementation in all countries. FLS serves as an exemplar in relation to the Health Care Quality Initiative of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) [98].