UNC’s Better Back Care program creates a new model of care for patients with back pain that will improve the patient’s experience and outcomes, reduce the cost of care and deliver an innovative method of financing care.
The Better Back Care program will create a medical neighborhood linking approximately 60 primary care providers with the UNC spine program, an existing multidisciplinary team of 10 specialty providers employing evidence-based, patient-centered approaches. This medical neighborhood will adopt evidence-based, coordinated care of demonstrated effectiveness for patients with new onset low back pain through guideline adherence, patient education and shared decision making, improved access to care, and care coordination. Nurse patient navigators will play a critical role by providing clinical support and care coordination for patients in the neighborhood to ensure patients receive the right care at the right time.
The award is $6,034,888 over three years.