The Russian Association On Osteoporosis (RAOP) conducted a series of webinars within the framework of the DOCTOR SCHOOL educational project. This was a series of 12 webinars dedicated to various clinical, diagnostic aspects, and analysis of complex clinical cases. The final webinar was held on August 28, 2020 and was called 'Secondary Fracture Prevention Services. Prevention of Falls'.

Professor Olga Lesnyak, PhD, President of RAOP, was the moderator and the first speaker at the webinar. Her presentation explained why there is a necessity to set up Secondary Fracture Prevention Services (also known as Fracture Liaison Services, or FLS). It also provided an analysis of the impact of FLS programs on patient outcomes and cost savings. 

The second lecturer was the head of the RAOP Presidium Working Group on setting up FLS in Russia, Dr Ksenia Belova, PhD. She presented data on approaches of FLS organization based on data from already established services in Russia. She showed the main results and ways to solve problems, and introduced the main information resources to assist clinics in establishing FLS programs. 

The third participant was Dr Ilya Babenko, PhD, Deputy Head of the Project office of the Russian Federal project ‘Senior Generation’, who discussed this critically important government initiative and its significance to secondary fracture prevention in the Russian Federation, as described below. 

The more than two-hour long webinar was attended by more than 200 healthcare professionals. With numerous reports presented, and with many questions and the use of interactive voting, this highly dynamic educational session was extremely well received by the participants. 

Federal project ‘Senior Generation’ will benefit secondary fracture prevention

The presentation by Dr Babenko highlighted what is certainly a highly significant and exciting development: the Russian Federal project ‘Senior Generation’, which is part of the national project ‘Demography’. With this project the Ministry of Health has committed to improving the provision of medical care to people aged 60 and over with osteoporotic fractures. The project includes sections focused on fractures and falls prevention, and clinical and methodological guidelines have already been developed. Among the main objectives of the project are: 

• implementation of measures for the hospitalization and surgical treatment of patients with hip fractures within 48 hours; 
• implementation of FLS programs and opening of osteoporosis centers, fall prevention centers, and the foundation of geriatric services in all regions of the country; 
• implementation of screening for osteoporosis in primary care.

The plan is that by 2021, the above measures will be implemented in seven pilot regions of Russia, by 2022 – in 17 more, and by 2023- in 27 others. Eventually, these measures will be rolled out to all regions of the Russian Federation. 

Decisions on the introduction of services for secondary fractures and falls prevention are made at the level of the Ministry of Health and within the framework of a Federal project, so this program will be universal and mandatory. 

Professor Lesnyak stated:

“RAOP has worked intensively over the years to bring the urgent need for osteoporosis and secondary fracture prevention to the attention of the health authorities. Now, with the implementation of the project ‘Senior Generation’, we are absolutely delighted to see that the important issue of providing medical care to elderly patients with osteoporotic fractures has reached the national level. This will have enormous significance for fracture prevention and more broadly for healthy ageing and mobility among the country’s older population.”

Commenting on RAOP's continued commitment to training for healthcare professionals, Dr Belova added:

“As reflected in our successful webinar series, RAOP has been very active in training doctors and health care organizers on issues of osteoporosis and basic approaches to the organization of FLS in order to optimally implement these services in the regions. As the project ‘Senior Generation’ helps to trigger FLS development throughout the country, we look forward to continued efforts to educate and mentor healthcare professionals on best practice in post-fracture care implementation, also in cooperation with the IOF Capture the Fracture Partnership.”