An orthogeriatric quality improvement initiative from the European Academy for Medicine of Ageing (EAMA): enhancing osteoporosis treatment and fall prevention.

PURPOSE: To design and implement a structured international quality improvement initiative addressing two critical areas: post-fracture osteoporosis treatment and fall prevention programs.

METHODS

We developed a quality improvement initiative using the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) model across six European orthogeriatric units. After identifying common gaps, the intervention focused on three pillars: (1) education and training of multidisciplinary teams; (2) patient and caregiver engagement through flyers, posters, and videos; and (3) protocol standardization, through the development of Standard Operating Procedures and referral to fall-prevention clinics. Each orthogeriatric team selected a priority area based on local needs. We then collected process and outcome metrics and assessed them within each country's healthcare context.

RESULTS

The project led to a set of educational materials and clinical protocols, enhancing training, empowering patients and professionals, and improving service quality. Trained healthcare workers were satisfied with the program, and most of the patients declared themselves to be more informed than before. The development and introduction of an osteoporosis algorithm increased treatment rates significantly in Portugal and Finland. Bone-health and fall-prevention clinics were launched within the geriatric medicine department in Malta and Italy, respectively.

CONCLUSION

This low-cost, scalable initiative shows early promise for adaptation across diverse European healthcare systems. The initiative aims to expand to additional orthogeriatric units and to launch a suite of standardized orthogeriatric tools and protocols that could support wider implementation.