LAS VEGAS, NV (February 14, 2019) - Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center announces a new program to improve patients' bone health after a fracture. The American Orthopaedic Association's Own the Bone® program is a national initiative designed to prevent the recurrence of fragility fractures. Its web-based program and 10 prevention measures transform the way hospitals treat fracture patients, according to the AOA.
Fragility fractures have become nearly epidemic in the U.S. among older adults with over 2 million fractures each year.
"One of the best indicators of a future fracture is a previous fragility fracture and the first sign of poor bone health," said Dr. Fred Redfern, medical director of the Sunrise Hospital Geriatric Fracture Program. "With the right protocol in place - which is what AOA's Own the Bone program brings to the table - we can use the initial fragility fracture to sound the alarm. Once we have heightened awareness, we surround these patients with support, treatment and education to reduce the risk of a second fracture," Dr. Redfern adds.
"Own the Bone" measures address nutrition, physical activity and lifestyle counseling, drug therapy, testing and communication.
"At the direction of the Sunrise Hospital Medical Executive Committee and aided by a specific hospital policy," we are grateful for Dr. Redfern's leadership in devising the right hip fracture protocol to care for our osteoporotic patients with fragility fractures," said Dr. Jeffrey Murawsky, Chief Medical Officer of Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center. "We welcome this new protocol for its ability to improve outcomes for our patients following a fracture."
About Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center and Sunrise Children’s Hospital
As Nevada's largest acute care facility and Level II Trauma Center, Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center offers high quality, patient-centered healthcare to the residents of southern Nevada, its surrounding region and the millions of visitors that come to Las Vegas. Sunrise Hospital is home to Nevada's first Joint Commission Accredited Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center. The Heart Center at Sunrise Hospital offers advanced cardiac care and features an Accredited Chest Pain Center. In addition to having the busiest Emergency Department in Nevada, Sunrise Hospital is also home to a County-designated STEMI receiving center.
For more information on Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, visit Sunrise Hospital, follow us on Twitter @SunriseLasVegas and Facebook.