Physicians' Network Tool Kit

Physicians play an important role in the diagnosis, treatment and management of low-back pain. The Institute for Work & Health is a member of POCKET (Physicians of Ontario Collaborating for Knowledge Exchange and Transfer), which developed this tool kit on managing low-back pain. The tool kit includes items on both short-term and long-term low-back pain.

Authors: Physicians of Ontario Collaborating for Knowledge Exchange and Transfer

Published: 2005, revised 2009

All items are free to download. A printed version of the full tool kit costs $18 and can be ordered using our order form.

Contents

Evidence Summary for Management of Non-specific Chronic Low Back Pain (revised April 2009)

This evidence summary was created to provide family physicians with a quick overview of the evidence (available as of February 2009) for managing non-specific long-term (chronic) low-back pain. It was designed to help physicians use evidence in their decision-making, along with their clinical experience and knowledge of their patients.

Evidence Summary for Management of Non-specific Chronic Low Back Pain (PDF, 68 KB)

So Your Back Hurts...Learn what works, what doesn't and how to help yourself (revised April 2009)

This free doctor-patient booklet contains evidence-based information on how patients can live with short-term (acute) low-back pain. It can be used to describe acute low-back pain to a patient and provides recommendations for patient care.

So Your Back Hurts... (PDF, 396 KB)

Prescription Pad for Low-back Pain (2005)

This pad has tear-off sheets for patients with instructions on back care.

Prescription Pad Sheet (PDF, 136 KB)

Red and Yellow Flag Indicator Cards (2005)

This physician's reference card helps rule out more serious disease. The cards in the downloadable files listed below are identical, but one file is set up to make it easier to print off four at a time on a standard colour office printer.

Red & Yellow Flag Cards - Single (PDF, 40 KB)

Red & Yellow Flag Cards - Sheet of Four (PDF, 80 KB)

Guide to the WSIB and WSIB Phone Directory Card (Revised April 2009)

This handy brochure describes the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board’s (WSIB's) health programs, required forms for physicians, and various roles and responsibilities. The phone card has numbers of WSIB medical consultants.

Guide to the WSIB (PDF, 140 KB)

WSIB Phone Directory Card (PDF, 40 KB)