The development and implementation of a digital platform in a fracture liaison service

Abstract

The fracture liaison service in the study hospital developed and successfully implemented a digital platform to support the identification of patients while concurrently optimizing participation in the National Fracture Liaison Database. This initiative provides additional evidence of the capacity of digital health to support fracture liaison services.

Purpose: Resourced fracture liaison services (FLSs) are accepted internationally as the preeminent means of reducing the risk of future fragility fractures. The FLS in the study hospital sought to develop and implement a digital platform to support the identification of patients and concurrently effectively participate in the National Fracture Liaison Service Database (FLS-DB) established to monitor key performance indicators (KPIs).

Method: Through linkage with the already established hospital's eTrauma digital system and Inpatient Management System, a bespoke fracture liaison digital platform was developed and introduced. Platform functionality supports automated patient identification and interoperability with the National Fracture Liaison Service Database enabling the anonymized safe transfer of key performance indicator data.

Results: Through automated identification of patients who require fracture liaison services, rates of identification have improved from 10% in 2021 to 87%. Time previously spent manually identifying patients is now available for clinical care. Key performance indicator data are recorded as part of the assessment and treatment process and successfully anonymized and transferred to the national database.

Conclusion: This initiative provides additional evidence of the capacity of digital health to support fracture liaison services. In comparable settings nationally and internationally where there are coexisting digital systems to support patient management and a national digital database for FLS key performance indicators, there is potential for the successful introduction of similar FLS digital platforms.

Keywords: Digital health; Fracture liaison service; Fragility fracture; Key performance indicators.