Promoting Transparency and Innovation in Healthcare Leadership!
The healthcare industry faces numerous challenges in addressing chronic conditions such as osteoporosis, particularly in the context of Australia’s healthcare system. Despite being renowned for its quality care, the system must adapt to meet the growing demand for addressing chronic diseases like osteoporosis at the primary care level, alongside acute care. However, existing barriers, including funding divisions between State and Federal governments, hinder efforts to provide comprehensive care for patients with chronic conditions.
Greg Lyubomirsky, CEO and a seasoned healthcare professional with a rich background in the industry has been at the forefront of advocating for bone health awareness and innovation. With a career marked by significant contributions to pioneering treatments for osteoporosis and the establishment of key organizations like Osteoporosis Australia, Greg’s expertise underscores his commitment to advancing healthcare.
Healthy Bones Australia (HBA) emerges as a leading force in the promotion of bone health awareness and prevention. Through strategic initiatives like the National Strategic Action Plan and innovative tools like Know Your Bones, HBA endeavors to empower individuals to assess their bone health risks and take proactive steps toward prevention. By prioritizing transparent communication and patient advocacy, HBA aims to drive positive change in healthcare policies and standards, ultimately improving patient outcomes nationwide.
Let’s delve to learn more:
Pioneering Bone Health Advocacy
Greg reminisces about his pivotal role in the mid-nineties when he led a business unit in Australia for pharmaceutical giant Merk, Sharp & Dohme. During this time, Greg shouldered a significant responsibility for the launch of one of Australia’s pioneering treatments for osteoporosis, Fosamax. At that juncture, the domain of bone health was relatively nascent, with minimal awareness, diagnosis, and treatment options available among healthcare professionals and consumers alike.
Greg’s strategic approach extended beyond merely educating general practitioners and engaging key opinion leaders; he also endeavored to cultivate the market, actively involving consumers. His initiatives included the establishment of Osteoporosis Australia, now known as Healthy Bones Australia, in 2001, serving as a pivotal national body representing individuals grappling with poor bone health.
In recognition of his extensive experience and expertise in the field, Greg was approached in 2015 by Professor Peter Ebeling AO to assume the role of CEO at Osteoporosis Australia, a challenge Greg readily embraced. His journey began with a medical education in Australia, and ever since then, the healthcare sector has remained his enduring passion and vocation.
Addressing Challenges in Bone Health Care
Despite being recognized as one of the world’s best healthcare systems, Australia faces numerous pressing issues that must be addressed to ensure high-quality care. While the hospital and primary care systems are largely geared towards acute care, such as infections, trauma, cardiovascular events, cancers, and unforeseen events like COVID-19, there is an increasing focus on addressing chronic conditions like diabetes, asthma, osteoporosis, among others, particularly at the primary care level. However, there remains much to be done across various levels, including prevention, infrastructure, and enhancing the skills and capacity of healthcare professionals. The division of funding and roles between State and Federal governments often presents a barrier to adequately addressing the needs of patients suffering from chronic conditions and comorbidities.
HBA recognizes these challenges, particularly those affecting the aging population grappling with poor bone health. Their National Strategic Action Plan prioritizes awareness and the prevention of fragility fractures alongside the development of more effective and efficient services in collaboration with fracture liaison clinics and coordinators in hospitals and primary care. The overarching aim is to enhance the identification, diagnosis, and management of osteoporosis within the community.
Moreover, the organization is committed to providing National Osteoporosis Guidelines for healthcare professionals and preventive diagnostic tools, such as Know Your Bones, to improve the diagnosis of potential risks and reduce the burden of osteoporotic fractures.
Empowering Bone Health Awareness
Know Your Bones, a flagship initiative developed by HBA in collaboration with the Garvan Institute of Medical Research offers an online self-assessment tool (knowyourbones.org.au). This tool enables consumers and patients to evaluate their risk of developing osteoporosis and/or bone fragility fractures. The system calculates the 5-10-year probability of fracture for individuals over the age of 50 and provides personalized recommendations for managing their bone health, which can be discussed with their healthcare providers for implementation.
To date, approximately 110,000 consumers in Australia have completed the assessment and received their reports. This tool significantly contributes to the potential reduction in bone fragility fracture presentations and consequently alleviates the burden of osteoporosis. Another significant initiative spearheaded by HBA is the introduction of fracture liaison services in primary care as a pilot project. This partnership with the Federal government aims to assess the impact of such services and how an enhanced focus on bone health services and infrastructure can benefit patients and mitigate the risk of osteoporosis.
Interim results indicate a significant improvement in the identification and diagnosis of patients at risk of fracture due to osteoporosis, as well as an increase in the active management of these patients, including appropriate treatment. Furthermore, in collaboration with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, HBA recently launched (March 26, 2024) new guidelines for General Practitioner management of osteoporosis in the community.
Elevating Patient Advocacy
Key opinion leaders and government bodies hold crucial roles as stakeholders for HBA; however, the organization increasingly prioritizes the voice of patients and patient advocacy. The necessity of patient advocacy and advocacy groups arises from their ability to drive positive change by raising awareness about the disease and its requirements, providing reliable information, advocating for policy changes, and enhancing patients’ self-management. Ultimately, the objective is to influence political, social, and cultural standards to align with the needs of consumers.
HBA has adopted a consistent approach to bolster the involvement of consumers and patients grappling with poor bone health and potential osteoporosis risks. Engagement with consumers occurs through various channels, including face-to-face forums, national programs, publications, and technology. Consumers and patients continually expand their role in advocating for policy changes, shaping strategies, promoting health, and, significantly, preventing diseases.
Advancing Healthcare Integration
Currently, the jurisdiction and funding of Australian healthcare are divided between state and federal governments. HBA’s strategy aligns with this structure by promoting and supporting the establishment of fracture prevention clinics in Australian hospitals (state government jurisdiction). In 2021, HBA initiated a pilot program aimed at integrating fracture liaison services with primary care clinics. This pilot program, conducted in partnership with the Federal Government and the Medical Research Future Fund of Australia, aims to evaluate the impact of this intervention on reducing the burden of fragility fractures in the community.
The pilot program protocol involves identifying patients at risk of osteoporosis and conducting personalized assessments of individuals’ bone health status, including the evaluation of future fracture risk using technology with evidence-based algorithms. Additionally, it offers patients personalized plans and management recommendations, including treatment options, which they can discuss and implement with their general practitioners.
Interim results from the pilot program demonstrate a significant positive shift towards improved patient diagnosis and clinical intervention. By the end of 2024, the pilot program’s findings and recommendations will be submitted to the Federal Government to propose the ongoing integration of this service into primary care, aiming to enhance the management of patients with osteoporosis and mitigate the burden of fragility fractures in the community. This integration will necessitate amendments to healthcare policies at the federal level.
The new guidelines for the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis, developed by HBA in collaboration with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and launched in March 2024, have the potential to engage primary healthcare professionals and positively impact the reduction of disease burden in Australia.
Empowering Healthcare Through Technology
In the realm of healthcare, the integration of modern technology is poised to revolutionize patient care and treatment outcomes. From accelerating the development of new medicines to enhancing diagnostic techniques, innovative technologies hold immense promise for addressing a wide array of health conditions. For instance, advancements in cellular-level technologies offer hope for individuals grappling with cancers and autoimmune diseases by enabling targeted treatments that minimize harm to healthy cells. Moreover, the advent of patient management platforms equipped with risk algorithms and patient registries offers unprecedented insights into disease patterns, thereby facilitating more effective management strategies.
Healthy Bones Australia has made substantial investments in cutting-edge technology to improve the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis patients and support informed decision-making among healthcare professionals. The Know Your Bones online self-assessment tool, boasting over 100,000 users, leverages automated algorithms to generate personalized risk assessments and management plans for fragility fractures. Complementing this tool, the HBA Compass disease management platform empowers nurses, coordinators, and doctors to comprehensively analyze patients’ osteoporosis risk factors, family history, and test results. By harnessing data-driven insights, these platforms provide actionable recommendations for treatment guidelines, research initiatives, and potential policy interventions.
Prioritizing Transparent Communication for Health Initiatives
HBA is an organization dedicated to prioritizing clear and transparent communication with both internal and external stakeholders to ensure the effective dissemination of complex medical information in healthcare and community settings.
Internally, HBA operates with a small yet highly effective team, facilitating streamlined communication. The organization fosters an environment of open communication through regular meetings, updated resources, and an open-plan office layout, which enables staff to stay informed about their colleagues’ activities. Employees are encouraged to ask questions and seek clarification, ensuring alignment regarding procedures and up-to-date information.
Externally, HBA employs a variety of communication channels to engage with stakeholders, including consumers, healthcare professionals, and the general public. These channels encompass promotional campaigns, newsletters, a user-friendly website, social media platforms, and targeted projects. Information is presented in easily understandable language, complemented by visual aids to enhance comprehension.
Furthermore, HBA values feedback from external stakeholders, which is actively solicited through regular meetings with the Board, the National Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee, and the National Consumer and Community Advisory Committee.
Balancing Compliance and Innovation in Healthcare
Greg emphasizes the importance of prioritizing medicolegal and compliance requirements as foundational principles for the organization’s framework and guidance. It is essential to ensure that these requirements do not impede the organization’s culture, innovation, or the ability of staff to express ideas and provide solutions.
HBA operates with a constitution that clearly defines the roles and responsibilities of its Board Members, outlines legal capacities and powers, establishes protocols for governance, sets financial parameters, and underscores critical medicolegal and compliance principles. Within this framework, the CEO maintains a thorough understanding of boundaries and potential risks while also facilitating a defined process for approving and implementing innovations and solutions. Transparency is maintained in all communications with both internal and external stakeholders.
The overarching goal of HBA is to deliver healthcare solutions that enhance consumer education and promote innovation, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes.
Fostering Collaborative Leadership for Organizational Success
Greg’s leadership style has evolved over the course of his career, influenced by various environments, situations, and teams. As CEO of HBA, his leadership approach is described by his team as adaptable and tailored to the needs of the organization.
Operating within the constraints of a not-for-profit organization with limited resources, Greg’s leadership blends multiple styles to leverage the collective strength of the team. Transparency and clear communication are foundational elements of HBA’s organizational culture. Regular team meetings facilitate open dialogue, ensuring a shared understanding of goals and strategies. This fosters an environment of trust and collaboration where every team member feels heard and valued.
Greg also prioritizes creating a positive work environment characterized by warmth and generosity. Recognizing the importance of individual strengths and personalities, he tailors his leadership approach to empower each team member to maximize their potential. This collective effort drives the success of HBA’s mission to promote bone health within the community.
While Greg focuses primarily on the organization’s big picture and strategic direction, he remains actively involved in day-to-day operations. By empowering team members to take ownership of their roles and responsibilities, HBA continues to make a significant impact in advancing its mission.
Advancing Bone Health Through Innovation
Looking ahead, it is imperative to recognize that maintaining the status quo is unacceptable, particularly given the increasing burden of osteoporosis faced by an aging population.
HBA is well-positioned to address these changes in the healthcare landscape. The organization remains dedicated to closing existing gaps in consumer and patient awareness and education, advocating for early diagnosis and appropriate intervention. However, there is a strong interest in driving positive change by alleviating the burden of disease and making a meaningful impact on patients, their caregivers, and the healthcare system.
One promising opportunity lies in the adoption of innovative diagnostic technology informed by comprehensive research and powered by artificial intelligence (AI). HBA envisions partnering with pioneering companies to leverage this technology in predicting the occurrence of bone fragility fractures in populations aged over 50. Current evidence suggests the feasibility of this approach independently of established diagnostic tools and tests.
Furthermore, HBA is eager to collaborate with individuals or entities engaged in cutting-edge research in bone health to explore potential cures for osteoporosis and bone fragility fractures. While acknowledging the difficulty and challenges inherent in this pursuit, the organization is encouraged by the progress observed thus far.
“HBA’s National Strategic Action Plan prioritizes awareness and the prevention of fragility fractures, alongside the development of more effective and efficient services in collaboration with fracture liaison clinics and coordinators in hospitals and primary care.”
“The new guidelines for the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis, developed by HBA... have the potential to engage primary healthcare professionals and positively impact the reduction of disease burden in Australia.”