Primary Care Focus On
Low Back Pain Relevant Initiatives
Centre for Effective Practice
CEP develops and executes knowledge translation projects addressing clinical gaps in primary care settings. It is the provincial lead for the Government of Ontario’s Low Back Pain Strategy. Visit CEP’s website to learn about other projects it has been involved with www.effectivepractice.org
Provincial Initiatives
Government of Ontario Low Back Pain Strategy www.ontario.ca/lowbackpain
Interprofessional Spine Assessment and Education Clinics (ISAEC): Ontario Pilot Project www.isaec.org
“The goal of the Inter-professional Spine Assessment and Education Clinics (ISAEC) pilot is to evaluate a new model of care in which inter-professional allied health care teams provide low back pain patients with assessment, education and evidence-based treatment plans emphasizing self-management strategies. In addition, referred patients will be provided with more streamlined access to specialists and diagnostic services when indicated. This pilot launched in Toronto, Hamilton and Thunder Bay in November 2012 and runs until the end of November 2013. The ISAEC pilot is funded by the Government of Ontario.” Source: www.isaec.org
Government of Saskatchewan www.health.gov.sk.ca/back-pain
“Saskatchewan has implemented a spine pathway - new assessment and treatment processes for patients with low back pain. This pathway will improve the assessment of low back pain by family physicians and other health providers, so patients can quickly receive care that is appropriate for their condition. The pathway is expected to decrease wait times for specialist referrals, treatment and surgery. In June 2011, the Regina Qu’Appelle and Saskatoon Regional Health Authorities opened Saskatchewan Spine Pathway Clinics in Regina and Saskatoon. Primary care providers can now refer patients who require additional assessment and suport to either clinic, using a physician referral form. At the Spine Pathway Clinics, a multi-disciplinary team of health providers will reassess patients and identify treatment options. ” Source: www.health.gov.sk.ca/back-pain
British Columbia www.bcma.org/practice-support-program
“The Practice Support Program (PSP) provides training and support (learning modules) for physicians and their MOAs designed to improve clinical and practice management and to support enhanced delivery of patient care. The PSP began as an initiative of the General Practice Services Committee’s (GPSC), a partnership between the BCMA and Ministry of Health (MoH), and now receives additional direction, support, and funding from the Shared Care Committee and the Specialist Services Committee (also a partnership between the BCMA and MoH). The Shared Care Committee is working with the PSP in the development and delivery of learning modules with a focus on the shared care of patients between family and specialist physicians. The committee provides additional funding to the PSP for development and delivery of and specialist participation in modules with a shared care approach, which currently include:
Shared System of Care for Patients with COPD/CHF (in development).
Musculoskeletal (MSK) (in development).
End of Life.” Source: www.bcma.org/practice-support-program
Alberta www.topalbertadoctors.org
Low Back Pain Guidelines were developed by Alberta’s Towards Optimized Practice (TOP) group. They are available at the link above and include additional tools to support providers and patients in the appropriate assessment and management of Low Back Pain across acute, recurrent and chronic.
National or Pan-Canadian
Back Care Canada www.backcarecanada.ca
Bone and Joint Canada www.boneandjointcanada.com
“Over the last few years Bone and Joint Canada (BJC), the Canadian division of the Bone and Joint Decade, has developed partnerships across Canada with organizations committed to the management of patients 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.” It supports collaboration across Canada for initiatives on topics related to its mandate including Low Back Pain. Source: http://www.boneandjointcanada.com/
Canadian Spine Society www.spinecanada.ca/
CBI Health Group www.cbi.ca