Successes

Bone & Joint Health Strategic Clinical NetworkTM

 
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Since 2012, the Bone & Joint Health SCN has worked alongside patients, families, operational leaders, researchers and other health partners to address system pressures, develop strategies that promote health and injury prevention, and implement innovative solutions, standardized pathways and best practices that improve clinical safety, patient care, and outcomes provincially.

Hip and Knee Arthroplasty

Clinical and operational teams from across Alberta have developed and implemented a standardized clinical pathway for hip and knee replacement (arthroplasty) to improve performance, patient outcomes, efficiency and value across the system. In 2015, this pathway was spread provincially to all surgical facilities performing arthroplasty surgery, resulting in reduced length of stay and percentage of surgeries involving blood transfusion.

Outcome improvements

  • Estimated cumulative savings to date from reduced length of stay, fewer blood transfusions, and reduce readmission rates is more than $259 million.
  • As well, a pragmatic randomized controlled trial showed that pain and functional outcomes improved significantly for patients using the pathway compared with standard care over a 12-month follow-up period.

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Fracture and Injury Prevention

The BJH SCN has led several programs and services aimed at preventing bone fractures and optimizing bone health and early diagnosis and management of osteoporosis.

Outcome improvements

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  • Results show that these types of prevention programs are cost-effective (an estimated $9,200 per quality-adjusted life-year compared with usual care) and acceptable to patients, providing appropriate care and information upon which to make decisions.

Use of Stem Cells to Treat Bone & Joint Injuries and Osteoarthritis (OA)

The BJH SCN has been monitoring evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of stem cell use in treating bone and joint injuries, and OA. This is an active area of research internationally with potential to reduce pain and improve patient outcomes.