Government of Ontario's Primary Care Low Back Pain Pilot project Interprofessional teams reducing disability, opioids and pain! "Since January 2015, clinic staff have taken part in Ontario’s Primary Care Low Back Pain Pilot project. Funded by the health ministry, it has studied the use of inter-professional teams of health care workers to treat patients with lower back pain. Chiropractor Dr. Bruce Flynn said as the project progressed, “The data was showing there was a major reduction in medication use, including opioid medications. “The results have been phenomenal.” The program is one of seven in Ontario. They integrate such practitioners as chiropractors, physiotherapists and kinesiologists into other health organizations. That, said Flynn, results in closer work among professionals as they treat patients with a team approach. Together the seven pilot projects reported 83 per cent of patients relied less upon pain medication following treatment. Ninety-three per cent said the quality of their lives improved as a result of having less pain. Staff also recorded a 51 per cent decline in disability between initial examination and re-examination.
