Falling Behind! A collaborative approach to better bone health and falls prevention

Daragh RodgerANP Care of the Older Adult Community, St Mary’s Hospital

Anne Spencer RN, BA (Hons), MScEducational Technologist, PETAL

Overview of Presentation

Importance of :• Bone health• Falls awareness• Falls reduction, prevention & management

In order to :• Reduce unnecessary injuries• Reduce unnecessary suffering• Reduce financial costs• Promote healthy active ageing

through education

Report of the National Steering Group on the Prevention of Falls in Older People and the

Prevention and Management of Osteoporosis throughout Life (2008)

• Falls main reason for attendance at A&E departments

• 75% of all injuries are as a result of a fall

• Falls and falls related injuries cost in excess of €404 million per annum

• Fractures are the most common injury

• Hip fracture is the most serious bone injury

• Fractures as a result of osteoporosis

• Osteoporosis is on the increase with our ageing population

• Osteoporosis is treatable and preventable

Incidence of Hip Fracture in Ireland

Fact

• 16 trauma centres in Ireland

• 3000 + hip fractures a year

• Cost: €35million for inpatient care

• Irish Hip fracture Database since 2012

• 2nd Annual Report due 28th Feb, RCSI

(Ahern, E & Brent, L. 2013)

IOF: Incidence of Hip Fractures

http://www.iofbonehealth.org/facts-and-statistics/hip-fracture-incidence-map

Hip Fractures in Context

Role of Education Technology

• Pragmatic Approach to Design & Delivery Using Differing Web 2.0 Tools

• Accessibility is key• Open Access – staff, families, carers

and the public• Available on Mobile Devices /

Differing Platforms• Bite Size Nuggets of Learning• Limited budget

Animoto – Online Video Creation

Tumblr Blogging Tool

Box Cloud File Storage Software

QR Codes & Augmented Reality

SlideshareArticulate E AuthoringVideo HostingBlogger

Development of an online COP to offer support, guidance and continued education in falls prevention and management across the care spectrum for older adults:-• Acute Hospital Care• Community Care• Intellectual Disabilities Care• Palliative Care• Residential Care

We are seeking a proactive collaborative approach to falls prevention by providing a platform for continuing engagement

www.foreverautumn.co

Forever Autumn

Community of Practice

Poster Campaign 2013

Prompt patients to ask about screening for osteoporosis and will be placed in key patient waiting areas:-

• A&E departments• Fracture Clinics• Outpatient clinics• GP surgery’s• Health centres

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Reactive V Proactive

• System failure – too late to react at point of hip fracture

• Screening - fracture liaison services currently very poor nationally

• 50% of those who suffered a hip fracture in one site had history of previous fracture with no bone health interventions (O Connor et al 2013)

• Is falls prevention on the agenda???

• Currently national group working towards the implementation of the 2008 strategy

Education • Bone health – lifelong process need

to educate all ages

• Increase falls awareness –potential for falls

• Falls prevention and reduction across all care settings

• Goal is to reach as many as we can in the most cost effective way

Visit our web sites and contact us for more information

daragh.rodger@hse.ie aspencer@petal.ie

www.bonehealth.co www.foreverautumn.co

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