Integrated Fragility Hip Fracture Program: A Model for High Quality Care

Hip fractures are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among elderly patients. Coordinated multidisciplinary care is required to optimize medical outcomes.

To determine the effect of the implementation of standardized, evidence-based protocols on clinical outcomes and mortality in patients with fragility hip fractures.

A multidisciplinary group was convened to define best practices in fragility hip fracture care and implement a fragility hip fracture clinical protocol at Yale-New Haven Hospital. Clinical outcomes in 2015, prior to program initiation, were compared with 2018, after the program was well established.

Measured outcomes included 30-day mortality, blood transfusion utilization, adverse effects of drugs, venous thromboembolic complications, sepsis, myocardial infarction, mechanical surgical fixation complications during the index admission, length of stay, 30-day readmission, unexpected return to the operating room (OR) and time to the OR.

The implementation of the Integrated Fragility Hip Fracture Program was associated with significant reductions in 30-day mortality from 8.0% in 2015 to 2.8% in 2018 (P = .001). Significant reductions were also seen in use of blood transfusions (46.6% to 28.1%; P < .001), adverse effects of drugs (4.0% to 0%; P < .001), length of stay (5.12 to 4.47 days; P = .004), unexpected return to the OR (5.1% to 0%; P < .001), and time to the OR <24 hours (41.8% to 55.0%, P = .001).

An Integrated Fragility Hip Fracture Program using multidisciplinary care, physician and nursing engagement, evidence-based protocols, data tracking with feedback, and accountability can reduce mortality and improve clinical outcomes in patients with hip fractures.