Bone and Joint Canada (BJC) has developed partnerships across Canada with health care providers committed to the management of people presenting with musculoskeletal disorders. Working through clinical, administrative and policy leaders in each of the provinces, BJC has developed a network approach to improving system performance and patient care. By working together and building on these relationships there are significant opportunities for improving the care for MSK patients across Canada through the next decade.
BJC will continue to function as a knowledge translation agency to work with the health care providers across Canada to implement best practices in the management of MSK conditions as new research becomes available. BJC will continue to focus on its key surgical programs of hip and knee replacement as well as hip fracture. Work will be expanded into the primary care sector through the implementation of the framework for low back pain and OA that were developed through 2014. Finally work will also continue in injury prevention through the ongoing implementation of successful MSK injury prevention strategies.
BJC has worked with its partners across the country to successfully implement a number of projects for which further information can be found on this web site.
Hip and Knee Replacement
Through funding provided by Health Canada BJC developed a Model of Care and supporting Toolkit for hip and knee replacement. Using a coordinated approach, implementation activity took place in all 10 provinces which resulted in improvements to clinical care and wait times across the country. Work continues to improve the delivery of services including the use of data, funding changes to improve access and quality of care and appropriateness.
Hip Fracture
BJC developed a Toolkit which provides best practice across the care continuum for patients who have experienced a hip fracture. Implementation activity was funded through Health Canada with significant changes seen in performance across the country. Further work is underway that promotes the use of data to continue to improve access and quality of care.
Low Back Pain
Through a coordinated strategy of stakeholder engagement and funding provided by Medtronic, an industry partner, BJC is developing a national model of care for low back pain that optimizes the patient’s care in the primary care sector thereby reducing inappropriate diagnostic imaging for MRI as well as inappropriate referral to surgeons.
Osteoarthritis
BJC is undertaking a stakeholder engagement to identify current practices in the management of osteoarthritis across the country from which to develop recommendations on short and long term opportunities to improve patient access and care.
Injury prevention in soccer
One of the leading causes of osteoarthritis is injury in youth. An injury prevention program has been developed by the leading international soccer organization FIFA that reduces these injury rates by up to 70%. BJC is currently working with the Ontario Soccer Association to implement this program (FIFA 11+) in soccer clubs across Ontario.
Supporting Research
Through its extensive partnerships and its relationships with researchers across the country BJC works with researchers to identify areas of research that will improve quality of care at a systems level. BJC has also been partnering with the United States Bone and Joint Initiative (USBJI) to deliver a twice yearly mentoring program for early career researchers with a stated interest in musculoskeletal conditions. The Young Investigator Initiative aims to advance basic and clinical research capacity in musculoskeletal diseases in North America by matching early-career clinical investigators with experienced researchers in the field to assist them in developing the skills required to create sound research projects which will help to move forward the knowledge in musculoskeletal health.