A Partnership in Healing: Reducing Pain Through Communication & Collaboration

Back pain can be a constant, debilitating health issue that can have a profound impact on an individual’s mental and physical health. According to the National Institutes of Health, it is the leading cause of disability in the U.S., and the sixth most costly health condition.

“I hear from so many Providers the challenges our patients face dealing with years of chronic back pain,” shares Dr. Krishnamoorthy Rao, Chief of Adult Medicine at Lowell Community Health Center. “Especially if your job involves repetitive physical activity, like cleaning or carpentry, the toll on the body and risk of injury is high.”

If not treated effectively and consistently, even simple daily tasks can become unbearable. For many patients, one of the most successful and simplest solutions is physical therapy – learning how to how to move your body in ways that alleviate pain, prevent further injury, and reduce the need for more complex solutions, like surgery.

But, time after time Dr. Rao heard from his team that patients referred for therapy would come back, frustrated their symptoms did not improve. Thankfully, we had an expert close at hand. For 8+ years, Northeast Rehab has had an office right down the hall in our Jackson Street building.

The first step? Understanding the problem.

“Physical therapy has so many long-term benefits. But, it’s not like antibiotics for an ear infection or an annual flu shot,” shares Josh Avery, Clinic Manager of Northeast Rehab’s Jackson Street location. “The foundation begins in our office, but change can take weeks or months, depending how often treatment is happening.”

Unfortunately, insurance rarely covers the frequency of therapy visits needed and patients lack time and resources to prioritize treatment. But, with increased collaboration, the team honed in on another key barrier: communication.
Opening conversations between our providers, patients, and partners at Northeast Rehab inspired new ideas and ways of thinking.

“We realized that our team wasn’t consistently educating patients about what to expect with this type of treatment,” Dr. Joshua Kuan shared. “Northeast Rehab was eager to help – jumping in to help us create a new approach, focused on early intervention and the psychological and physical components of chronic pain, so we could help patients feel even more supported and invested in their recovery.”

Strengthening communication between doctors, patients, and physical therapists has proven a winning formula. Since implementing the increased collaboration and education sessions, 3x as many patients have been referred for treatment, plus we have seen a 34% improvement in reported outcomes, meaning more patients are feeling positive about their progress and experiencing less pain.

“The reality of medicine is that most chronic conditions benefit from a collaborative, team-based approach,” shares Dr. Rao. “We are so grateful to have partners like Northeast Rehab who share this belief and are invested in making real change that improves the health of everyone in our community.”

Image Caption: Dr. Rao (left) and Dr. Kuan (right) collaborate with Josh Avery, Clinic Manager at Northeast Rehab’s Jackson Street location.