To the Editor: The editorial by Seibel1 was timely, given the promotion in February last year by the New South Wales Agency for Clinical Innovation of an osteoporotic refracture prevention model of care. The evidence presented by Seibel is compelling — osteoporosis is a serious, undermanaged and preventable problem, and there are no more excuses for not instituting refracture prevention protocols in major teaching hospitals. Not only do these programs work to prevent further patient morbidity and mortality, but they are cost-effective in reducing the burgeoning public hospital costs associated with recurrent fractures and hospital admissions. We question the delay in implementing such programs.
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The Department of Rheumatology, Westmead Hospital, received a grant-in-aid from Aventis Pharma to complete the osteoporosis study.