As a primary care provider, you know that managing your patients’ low back pain can sometimes be a challenge. Refer your patients to Ontario-wide Rapid Access Clinics (formerly ISAEC) and they will receive personalized care within four weeks.
Your patients will work with specially trained physiotherapists, chiropractors or nurse practitioners to create an evidence-based self-management plan – reducing repeat visits, opioid risks and lengthy referral wait times.
Proven benefits for you and your patients
- Easy referral, with only one point of contact
- Improve the quality and appropriateness of care
- Piloted since 2012 with 99% patient satisfaction rate
- Fully covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP)
Inclusion criteria for this program*:
- Patients with persistent lower back pain and/or related symptoms (e.g., sciatica, neurogenic claudication) that are not improving 6 weeks to 12 months from onset
OR - Patients with unmanageable recurrent episodic lower back pain and/or related symptoms of less than 12 months duration post-recurrence.
*See physician FAQs for information about exclusion criteria.
Register online in minutes
You must be enrolled in the program to refer patients. Registration is quick and easy. If you are a primary care provider in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), simply complete a short, online on-boarding module. This only takes a few minutes.
If at any time you have questions about the registration or onboarding process, please call 905-472-7019.
How does the program work?
When you refer patients to this program, they will receive fast, appropriate and personalized care to help them manage pain effectively.
- Patient referral:
Once registered for the program, you’ll get access to referral forms and be able to seamlessly refer qualified patients to the Rapid Access Clinics. They should receive an appointment within four weeks. - Initial assessment:
Your patient will meet with a physiotherapist, chiropractor or nurse practitioner with advanced skills in low back care. The assessment will include medical history and a physical examination, after which you will receive a summary of the consultation and be notified of all next steps. - Personalized plan:
Your patient will receive a custom self-management plan to help them better manage pain and improve mobility with actionable steps such as exercises, lifestyle changes or other options (e.g., physiotherapy or chiropractic). - Follow-up:
If your patient is at risk of chronic low back pain, we will provide one or more follow-up appointments. If their condition is more serious, we can arrange additional imaging or make a referral to a specialist or surgeon.
Note: If your patient needs to see a pain specialist, we will notify you with a recommendation to arrange that referral.
Resources
- Patient intake form: To save time, have your patients complete this form before their appointment
- Frequently asked questions: See the FAQs
- Referral form
Sign up
You must sign up for this program and complete the online module before referring patients.
For more information, please call 905-472-7019 or send us an email using the button below. Make sure to let us know you are a primary care provider.
We take precautions to protect your personal information. Unfortunately, however, no data transmission over the internet is 100 per cent secure. We highly suggest you avoid sending unnecessary personal information to us through email, such as health card numbers.