“The results of a pilot project by the Ministry of Health to get family doctors to work with chiropractors in family care teams showed doctors requested fewer MRIs and made fewer referrals to surgeons for their patients with low back problems.

The ‘Consulting Chiropractor’ pilot project had chiropractors do 30-minute assessments of patients with low back pain and discuss the treatment options with the patient’s family doctor. Environics Research Group and the Ontario Chiropractic Association then polled participating family physicians.

Aside from fewer tests and referrals, the doctors reported that having the chiropractor in their team made for quicker turnaround and boosted patients’ confidence in the diagnosis and treatment options.”

Read more: Pilot project shows fewer MRIs, referrals to surgeons for patients with low back pain when family doctors have chiropractor on their team