Ultimately, many patients will also suffer chronic depression. Low back pain is the second most common reason for a visit to a primary care physician. Claims data in conjunction with pharmacy data is analyzed to stratify each low back patient into one of five risk categories. Levels one through three are considered low risk, and levels four and five are considered high risk. Participation in the program is voluntary.
All patients identified in risk categories one through five receive an introductory brochure.
This brochure contains a postcard for patients to request additional educational materials. The introductory brochure discusses the frequency of low back problems in the population and provides simple tips to prevent or control low back pain. All patients in these risk categories receive an annual mailing in October to discuss winter season back injury prevention and a similar mailing in April to discuss spring and summer back injury prevention. Additional random mailings promote additional educational materials available upon request. Those patients in the highest risk categories, four and five, receive an initial mailing containing a quality of life survey.