Spine Pathway - Provider Information
Saskatchewan's Spine Pathway is designed to help patients with low back pain get the care they need in a timely way. Most often, low back pain can be managed at the primary care level. The Saskatchewan Spine Pathway’s Assessment and Management of Low Back Pain course is designed to build on providers’ low back pain assessment and management skills. Primary care providers who complete the course learn to recognize patterns of low back pain and treatment protocols that can be incorporated into their own practice to improve patient outcomes.
There may be times when patients do not respond to treatment by the primary care provider and referral to the Regina or Saskatoon Spine Pathway Clinic is required.
At the Spine Pathway Clinics, health providers further assess patients, help educate patients about aggravating factors, and identify treatment options. When appropriate, patients may be referred to a spine surgeon.
The pathway helps to ensure that everyone experiencing back pain gets the care they need, and only patients who would benefit from surgery are referred to surgeons.
Continuing medical education
Assessment and Management of Low Back Pain: Online Training Course
Primary care providers including physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physical therapists, and chiropractors can take the Assessment and Management of Low Back Pain online course at no charge. Participants will have ongoing access to the course materials.
This course has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada and Mainpro+ credits.
For further information on the spine training courses, please contact pathways.training@saskhealthauthority.ca.
Related documents
Assessment and Management of Low Back Pain: Live Training Course
Next live training course: Date to be determined.
Referrals
Primary care providers who have completed a professional education course on Assessment and Management of Low Back Pain can refer patients directly to the Regina or Saskatoon Spine Pathway Clinics using the Primary Care Practitioner Clinical Record of Assessment Form.
Referral form
Spine Pathway clinics
There are two Spine Pathway Clinics, one in Regina and one in Saskatoon.
The clinics confirm the low back pain pattern diagnosis of the patient’s back pain and educate the patient on treatment options for their low back pain. The Spine Pathway Clinics can provide a referral to a Spine Surgeon if the patient is deemed a surgical candidate.
Locations and contact information
- Regina Spine Pathway Clinic
Surgical Assessment Centre
102 - 1621 Albert Street
Regina, SK S4P 2S5
Phone: 306-766-0446
Fax: 306-766-7551 - Saskatoon Spine Pathway Clinic
Saskatoon City Hospital
701 Queen Street
Saskatoon, SK S7K 0M7
Phone: 306-655-7544
Fax: 306-655-8951
Assessment and treatment tools
Related documents
Low back pain treatment algorithms
- The LiveWell with Chronic Conditions Workshops is a peer-led, community based, self-management program intended to help adults who are experiencing a wide range of chronic pain conditions, including chronic back pain.
For further information, or to provide feedback on the Spine Pathway, please use the feedback link at the bottom of the page or email us at pathways.training@saskhealthauthority.ca with “Spine Pathway” in the subject line. We look forward to hearing from you about the ways we can improve outcomes for patients and enable health providers to provide the best possible health advice.