Background:
Osteoporosis (OP) is estimated to affect 3.4% of the Australian population in 2022. One of the treatments for OP includes intravenous Aclasta (Zoledronic Acid) infusion.
In December 2022, Sonic Nurse Connect, one of the largest community Aclasta infusion provider discontinued their infusion service. This had a significant impact on the amount of external Aclasta infusion referrals issued to Endocrine Testing Area (ETA) at St Vincent’s hospital Melbourne (SVHM).
Aim:
Method:
The ETA nurse initiated a survey which was sent to Endocrinologists across Victoria.
The Diabetes Education and Endocrinology manager proposed to develop an Aclasta infusion service based on government funding availability in the national Weighted Activity Unit (NWAU).
ETA nurse monitors volume of referrals and collect feedback from specialists and patients.
Results:
The survey indicated a drastic increasing number of Aclasta referrals to ETA from Endocrinologists and other specialists.
NWAU funding estimated the Aclasta service captures approximately 10 times more financial source to ETA. Aclasta infusion service opened in April 2024. The ETA service has been well recognised, and the news article was published at SVHM website in October 2024.
In April 2025, the Aclasta team updated procedure protocol to improve infusion service. ETA statistic demonstrates increasing demands of Aclasta referrals. Aclasta service operation expanded from three days per week to four days per week.
Conclusion:
The closure of community infusion service resulted in large volume of Aclasta referrals to ETA at SVHM. NWAU founding has supported the development of Aclasta service. SVHM has become the first hospital in Victoria to have two dynamic ETA nurse on site. Over 700 patients received Aclasta treatment comparing to 120 patients in the previous years.