Primary Care Providers

Timely Access

Patients are seen by an advanced practice provider (APP) such as a physiotherapist or chiropractor, at a local clinic and trained to do a standardized comprehensive spine assessment, in approximately four weeks. Patients typically receive one consultation-based low back pain assessment and limited 1-2 follow-up assessments.

Personalized Care

Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) perform standardized consultation based assessments and develop personalized, evidence-based self-management treatment plans, which are shared with Primary Care Providers (PCPs) to support ongoing care.

Connected Care

Patients requiring an escalation of care are referred to the regional hub Practice Lead (PL) via the RAC-LBP program pathway for specialized assessments, such as imaging or evaluating surgical options. Primary Care continues to play a crucial role with shared-care management of patients and their ongoing needs.

Patients referred to the RAC-LBP Program:

• Receive education, resources, and an exercise-based self-management plan from the APP to help co-manage their condition with the PCP.
  • Note: There is no manual treatment provided.
• Are assessed for the need for further specialist consultation including imaging, spine injections, and/ or surgical consult.
  • These patients will be escalated, if appropriate, to a Practice Lead in approximately six weeks for a triage assessment and streamlined to the first available RAC-LBP affiliated spine surgeon as indicated.