SIRA targets low back pain in updated model of care
22 February 2024
SIRA and the NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI) have partnered with a number of experts to release updated guidance for the care and treatment for people with low back pain in NSW.
The newly published Model of care for the management of low back pain - Summary promotes the latest evidence to deliver a standard of care for people experiencing back pain.
Back problems affect 4 million Australians and represent a significant number of injuries within the workers compensation and motor accident schemes.
One in five injuries in the workers compensation scheme and one in 10 injuries in the motor accidents scheme are back injuries.
SIRA Acting Chief Executive Dr Petrina Casey said that people with low back pain have been identified as a priority group.
“The treatment for people with low back pain has been our first priority area for implementing value-based healthcare in the NSW workers compensation and motor accidents schemes”.
“People with low back pain tend to have poorer outcomes, with higher rates of surgery, pain medicine utilisation, psychological distress and lower return to work rates.”
“Helping people with back pain access the right healthcare at the right time through the updated model of care will promote the best possible recovery outcomes,” Dr Casey said.
The new model of care is an up to date, evidence-informed guide for primary care clinicians on best practice management of low back pain. There are 10 key principles that support people through the early assessment, management, and review of back injuries.
A key update for the model of care enables injured people in rural and remote areas to access the right health professional to support their recovery. This may be a physiotherapist, osteopath, chiropractor, exercise physiologist, or practice nurse.
SIRA and ACI have published a model of care summary and patient information brochure that provide information to clinicians and injured people. The information encourages self-management, return to work and usual activity, empowering the person in their recovery journey to empower the person in their recovery journey.
Further Information
- Model of care for the management of low back pain – Summary
- Managing low back pain - Information for patients
- Implementation plan for value based healthcare in NSW Workers Compensation and CTP schemes
- Implementation plan for value based healthcare in NSW Workers Compensation and CTP schemes - Progress report October 2023