New Online Low Back Pain Toolkit Available
April 24th, 2019 | ArchiveAcute back pain is a global problem, with 84% of the people on the planet experiencing low back pain at some point in their lives. Treatment of the problem for most begins with a visit to their PCP, which presents a great opportunity for primary care to deliver evidence-based treatment that gives patients relief while avoiding the pitfalls (and uncertain outcomes) of unnecessary imaging, painful surgery and escalating pharmacotherapies.
Addressing the challenges of treating acute back pain in the primary care setting was the focus of the Initial Presentation Back Pain Subcommittee and the genesis of what became the Primary Care Back Pain Toolkit. Made up of primary care, behavioral health, spine care and other specialists, the subcommittee worked to develop this evidence-based resource for primary care management of non-specific low back pain with an emphasis on strategies for self-management and optimizing function.
Among the clinician resources contained in the toolkit are guidelines on productive conversations about back pain, common red flags and pharmacological options. Patient resources include videos, exercises and other educational materials. Designed to be used real time with your patients during their visits, the toolkit can be accessed at: here. Users of URMC’s EPIC system can access the toolkit by clicking on the AHP Clinical Resources image in the system banner:
Whether you’re navigating the toolkit during their visit, printing exercise guides for reference at home, or just sharing the URL, patients will benefit from the many resources the toolkit contains.
To support adoption of the guidelines and realize the benefits of better clinical outcomes at a lower cost for the care of back pain, AHP will be monitoring key indicators for this initiative including lumbar imaging ordered prior to 6 weeks of episode, opiate prescribing for these episodes, and referrals to physical therapy and/or chiropractor for patients with new episodes of back pain. These data will be shared with clinicians via the Quadruple Aim Report, and AHP medical directors will engage practices that may require additional support.
Associate Medical Director Matt Devine is leading this initiative, and he would like to also acknowledge the help and expertise that he received from the Initial Presentation Back Pain subcommittee to make this toolkit:
Matt Devine, DO
David Dobrzynski, MD
Wally Johnson, MD
Brian Justice, DC
Donna Kreher, PhD
Michael Landolf, MD
Timothy Lum, MD
John Markman, MD
George Nasra, MD
Jenny Radcliffe, PharmD
Chad Teeters, MD
You can find all of AHP’s Clinical Guidelines here.
