Abstract
The Bone and Joint Decade, 2000-2010, is a worldwide effort to advance understanding and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions and to promote research. The goals of the Bone and Joint Decade are to raise awareness of the growing burden of musculoskeletal disorders on society, to empower patients to participate in their own care, to promote cost-effective prevention and treatment, and to improve prevention and treatment through research. In recognition of the enormous public health crisis related to patients who sustain hip fractures, the Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons invited several specialty associations to participate in planning a National Consensus conference to address this crisis. NAON was pleased to be among the invited participants. The conference convened in May 2001 in Washington, DC, with over 60 participants from 40 specialty organizations. The objective of the conference was to explore the strengths and weakness of the current continuum of care, develop recommendations for addressing problems in the system, and devise strategies for implementing the recommendations. The recommendations emerged in four broad categories: Communication/Continuum of Care, Reimbursement, Prevention/Education, and Research Initiatives. These recommendations will serve as a framework to coordinate ongoing efforts and focus strategies toward improving the continuum of care for patients with hip fractures. The following is a report of the nature of the problem, the development of the conference, and the recommendations for optimizing outcomes.