Description
In this presentation, Professor Ben Olliviere from Nottingham discusses the issue of hip fractures and shares personal experiences that motivated his research. He reflects on the care received by his grandmother after she suffered a hip fracture while he was on call, illustrating the challenges faced in emergency departments (ED) when managing such cases. Professor Olliviere highlights a significant disagreement among colleagues regarding the necessity of conducting post-take ward rounds for patients in ED, emphasizing the vulnerable state of hip fracture patients.
He introduces the BOAST guidelines aimed at improving hip fracture care and addresses the importance of quality standards set by NICE that hospitals are mandated to comply with. Data from a national audit reveals alarming statistics, with only 6% of patients receiving prompt admission to hip fracture wards; his own hospital reported a shocking 1% compliance. This situation led to the establishment of a frailty admission unit at his hospital to streamline the process for hip fracture patients.
The unit features four beds and aims to expedite the care process, converting from an admissions unit to a discharge unit, thereby reducing ED length of stay significantly. Since the unit's opening, the hospital has reported improvements in patient outcomes, including a decrease in postoperative delirium rates—a positive change attributed to the focused care provided in this specialized unit.
Professor Olliviere emphasizes that this model is replicable in other hospitals to address similar challenges, encouraging healthcare professionals to consider innovative solutions to improve patient care for hip fractures.