Bon Secours St. Francis Health System

 

The St. Francis Geriatric Fracture program is dedicated exclusively to the care of older patients with fractures and is the first of its kind in South Carolina. The program is designed to help patients achieve the best possible outcome and curb the negative effects of geriatric bone fractures.

Experienced Team

Each patient in the Geriatric Fracture program is managed by an interdisciplinary team ranging from orthopedic surgeons and anesthesiologists to specialized nurses and physical and occupational therapists. All of these experienced professionals work together to create a care plans that best manage the care of fracture patients.

Pain Management

Fractured bones can cause a tremendous amount of pain, and effective pain management is one of the Geriatric Fracture program’s primary goals from the time a patient arrives. In addition to pain management by medicine, we aim for early surgical treatment to relieve the pain from the fracture. After surgery, pain management remains an important focus and pain continues to be managed by our dedicated, interdisciplinary team.

Streamlined Admission

Research shows that patients who are evaluated and treated quickly after a hip fracture have better outcomes. That’s why St. Francis’ Geriatric Fracture program has streamlined the admission process that allows patients who enter the Emergency Room at ST. FRANCIS downtown with a fracture to receive priority care. What’s more, patients in some nursing homes or assisted living facilities can be “direct admitted” to the program and bypass the ER altogether.

 

Most patients who are admitted to the program are evaluated by a physician and prepared for surgery to repair the fracture within 24 hours.

Continuum of Care

St. Francis offers services to care for the range of needs geriatric fracture patients experience. When patients are ready to be discharged from the Geriatric Fracture program, St. Francis is ready to provide:

•   Physical therapy: St. Francis physical therapists are trained in the most effective and specialized methods to getting fracture patients back to their lives.

•   St. Francis Inpatient Rehab:  Providing care for recovering fracture patients; a specialized team cares for elderly patients with rehabilitative needs perform physical and occupational therapy on a daily basis.

•   St. Francis HomeCare: Available to patients who are ready to return home but need additional nursing care; St. Francis HomeCare offers the benefits of home with a comprehensive range of services delivered in a warm, caring, and compassionate manner by specially trained and highly skilled professionals.

•   St. Francis Rehab Services: Physical therapy is available on an outpatient basis to patients who have returned home, but need to continue building their strength.

Health Information Resources

Aging Changes in the Bones

 

Osteoarthritis

 

Bone Fracture Repair