Physical Therapy Utilization Following an Emergency Department Consultation for Low Back Pain

Patients consulting the Emergency Department (ED) for low back pain (LBP) may have delayed or decreased likelihood of receiving subsequent physical therapy (PT). Early PT for LBP following a consultation for LBP with a primary care provider is associated with decreased LBP-related health care utilization. Timing of PT for LBP following a primary care consultation for LBP may be important. Little is known about timing or utilization of PT following a consultation in the ED for LBP. Local quality improvement (QI) efforts at a University of Utah outpatient PT clinic anecdotally determined that few patients who consulted ED for LBP were subsequently seen in PT for the same condition.