NBHC Care Experience
October 10, 2018
Health Quality Ontario (HQO) shows patients with musculoskeletal conditions such as osteoarthritis spend the most time waiting to access healthcare services, such as MRIs. Uncontrolled knee, hip and back pain was also associated with inappropriate use of opioids. The province is working on an approach to innovate its model of care for faster treatment, starting with osteoarthritis and other conditions causing hip, knee and low-back pain. It involves primary care providers referring patients through a central intake and referral centre to a Rapid Access Clinic. From there, they’ll be assessed within four weeks by an Advanced Practice Provider (physiotherapist, chiropractor or nurse practitioner). Benefits for patients include:
- Spending less time waiting to determine the best treatment options;
- For those that need a surgical consultation, being able to choose the first available surgeon; and
- Education and self-management support for those who don’t require surgeon consults.