BETTER PATIENT-CENTERED CARE FOR LOWER BACK PAIN

Released on January 26, 2011

Streamlining Improves Treatment Option For Spine Patients

Saskatchewan is introducing a new way to assess and treat patients with lower back pain that will provide them with rapid, consistent, patient-centered care.

Primary health care providers such as family physicians, chiropractors and physiotherapists can now take an online continuing education course on handling lower back injuries, made available through the Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative's spine pathway.

‘Patient pathways' are recognized as an innovative way to streamline care for patients as they move through the system, and ensure they quickly receive the most appropriate treatment. They have been shown to reduce time for assessment, improve patient outcomes, shorten hospital stays, and provide more consistent clinical practice. The continuing education course is Phase One of the Saskatchewan Spine Pathway; Phase Two will involve providing spine clinics at multi-disciplinary clinics in Saskatoon and Regina.

"Patients with spinal disorders often wait too long for access to specialists, diagnostic tests and surgery," Health Minister Don McMorris said. "This spine pathway will result in improved, streamlined processes that quickly direct patients to the most appropriate treatment and care that is co-ordinated among multiple health care providers. It is another step toward sooner, safer, smarter care for patients."

The spine course gives primary care providers a simple, accurate system to determine whether a patient's back pain can be resolved with simple exercises and rest, or whether they need an MRI or a surgical referral.

"Every year, approximately 10 per cent of Saskatchewan residents will experience a back strain or injury," Regina neurosurgeon Dr. Joseph Buwembo said. "The vast majority will get better in a short time without medical care. About 10,000 will see a primary care provider to manage their pain, which generally resolves within six weeks without the need for medical imaging. It can be challenging for family physicians caring for these patients, as there are a multitude of different spine diagnoses. Which cases will resolve on their own? Which will require a referral to a spine surgeon? Which cases are likely to develop into chronic pain? To answer these challenging questions, an expert panel of health providers was assembled. Over a three-year period they developed a simple, consistent process to assess and manage lower back pain."

"There is certainly a problem with the current system when referrals to overburdened surgeons consist of patients who are ‘inappropriate' for surgery," Saskatoon neurosurgeon Dr. Daryl Fourney said. "These patients may not need surgery, but they need access to care that is timely, effective and evidence-based. The goal of the Saskatchewan Spine Pathway is not only to improve access to the spine surgeon for patients who are likely to be surgical candidates, but also to enhance patient and referral physician education so that consistent information is provided and effective non-surgical therapies can be initiated earlier. It requires physicians to classify symptoms based on five distinct pain patterns that can be easily determined by history and physical examination."

The Saskatchewan Spine Pathway is one of the initiatives underway as part of the Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative, which is focused on improving the surgical patient experience and reducing surgical wait times to no more than three months by 2014. More information about the online course is available at www.spinepathwaysk.ca.

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For more information, contact:

Tyler McMurchy
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083
Email: tmcmurchy@health.gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-537-3594