Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospital for many years has been partnered with Osteoporosis Canada (OC) to support surveillance of high-risk fracture patients. The Internal Osteoporosis Prevention Nurse Coordinator ensures patients have the necessary navigation to treatment regimens. To date there is not a large internal awareness of this screening done at OSMH, so having the students involved to add value and spread awareness to such a program would be an opportunity for us. Students could explore the work that has been done to date between OSMH/Osteoporosis Canada along with researching best practices to educate and promote the program. 

Expected Outcomes and Deliverables: By having students engaged in Osteoporosis Work they will gain an understanding of not only the associated risk factors to fracture prevention, but propose the necessary Osteoporosis prevention and treatment support for all OSMH patients. Students can explore how the program works (with OC and OSMH), and research whether adding a treatment regimen to patients who present with osteoporotic bones pre-surgery is of significance. The students will work a plan to promote Osteoporosis Identification/treatment which could extend beyond the Fracture clinic and involve all patients who present to OSMH for fracture risk/osteoporotic bone growth supporting treatment regimens. The organization will benefit when awareness is raised and we increase our Osteoporosis Surveillance at OSMH.

Student Involvement: Students can engage with the below Osteoporosis work based on time/interest: 

Learn how the program works, review data on OSMH re-fracture rates and propose opportunities for improvement/access to osteoporosis care (including regional referrals/outcomes). 

Promote an internal educational plan for OSMH staff to raise awareness of our current Osteoporosis Program and create opportunity to extend this identification/prevention to all high risk OSMH patients. 

Research any opportunities to identify/treat osteoporotic bones pre-surgery in our surgical population to prevent interoperative fractures. Review interoperative fractures for their significance, prevalence and educate team. 

Resources Required (if any): Students will require access to data pooled from Osteoporosis Canada which can be received directly from them. Cerner Applications for chart review. Students may require access to Power point tools for presentations of data/education presentations for sharing. 

Support Offered to Students: Students will be offered support from the Osteoporosis Coordinator, as well as Nursing unit Manager from Surgery to support project initiatives (weekly/biweekly, or as required by students).