Spiraling healthcare costs require a better managed care that tracks risk for falls, impaired balance and other health issues in our aging population. We need evidence based outcomes to correctly assess a patients condition. .

The Problem

Bone density and independent risk factors such as oral steroid use, prior vertebral fracture, difficulty standing up and parental history of hip fracture contribute to fracture risk
Leading bone health treatments such as bisphosphonates reduce fracture risk between 40-70% (assuming that patients are compliant with medications as they typically are in clinical trials) and can take up to 3 years to have fracture risk protection
Fracture risk scores, such as FRAX, address clinical risk factors including BMD, but cannot be used with patients already under treatment with bone medication.
The above assessment and management strategies do not address spine loading, spinal curvature, and falling which are critical factors in understanding fracture risk.

12 billion dollars for hip fractures annually
17 billion dollars for total fractures
By 2025, the number of osteoporotic fractures is projected to increase by almost 50%

October 2008, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ceased reimbursing hospitals for "reasonably preventable" conditions developed during patient stays, this includes hip fracture from a fall.
To be reasonably preventable, “ there should be solid evidence that by following guidelines, the occurrence of an event can be reduced to zero or near zero," said American Medical Association President-elect J. James Rohack, MD.

The fall reduction program must include an evaluation appropriate to the patient population, settings, and services provided.
National patient Safety Goal 9: Reduce the risk of patient harm due to falls