Resolute Baptist Hospital earns top national honors for bone health program

Breaking a silent bone epidemic in New Braunfels 

(New Braunfels, TX) - Resolute Baptist Hospital has been recognized among healthcare institutions across the country for addressing a silent health epidemic that can cause long-term disability in those over age 50 in New Braunfels.

Resolute Baptist Hospital is ensuring its osteoporotic fracture patients in New Braunfels receive the treatment and care they deserve and the hospital earned the nation’s highest honors for its efforts. Through participation inline-block The American Orthopaedic Association’s Own the Bone® quality improvement (QI) program, Resolute Baptist Hospital has been designated as an “Own the Bone Star Performer” for the upcoming year, an achievement reserved only for institutions that perform the highest level of fragility fracture and bone health care.

Resolute Baptist Hospital joins more than 260 health care institutions nationwide that have implemented Own the Bone. Through the Own the Bone program and its national web-based quality improvement registry, Resolute Baptist Hospital is equipped 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.

Own the Bone Star Performers 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 participation in Own the Bone and recognition as an Own the Bone Star Performer, Resolute Baptist Hospital has demonstrated a commitment to helping patients understand their risk for future fractures and the steps they can take to prevent them.

Amanda Ivy, M.D., orthopedic surgeon with TSAOG Orthopaedics and Resolute Baptist Hospital, said she is proud the program is helping to improve the quality of care the hospitals provide for patients in New Braunfels. “Long term, we hope to help reduce the number of fragility fractures that occur in our community,” Dr. Ivy said.

What can people do to protect their bones?

• Get adequate calcium and vitamin D, through either 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.

Dr. Ivy encourages anyone over age 50, who has experienced a broken bone, to talk to a health care provider and get a bone density screening to determine if osteoporosis might be the cause. He said it is important for them to learn additional steps that may be needed to prevent future fractures.