RMTAO Blog
Opioid and Pain Reduction Collaborative - Fillable Forms
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In collaboration with the Ontario Chiropractic Association (OCA), the RMTAO is developing a variety of tools that RMTs can use to help their patients manage their chronic back, neck and shoulder pain, as well as make the communications pathways between themselves and primary care providers like doctors easier to better treat mutual patients who want to manage their opioid use.
The first tool we shared, the RMT Guidance, provides a sample script and other helpful information to help you continue the conversation with patients who want to discuss their opioid use, which was reviewed by the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO) to ensure you stay within your scope of practice.
We've now provided fillable forms you can use to help further support collaborative care. Your patients can share these with their primary care provider to further encourage collaboration.
These forms have an overview of your assessment including important findings and red/yellow flags, an overview of your treatment plan including estimated length and duration of treatment and treatment methods, and a section to aid with further collaboration with the primary care provider.
Download the Low-Back Pain Fillable Form
Download the Shoulder Pain Fillable Form
Download the Neck Pain Fillable Form
Best clinical practices by the Centre for Effective Practice suggests that treatment for musculoskeletal pain should begin with patient education and exercise. Clinical best-practice guidelines also recommend massage therapy and other manual therapies.
This is just one of the tools we will make available to help you collaborate with primary care providers to help mutual patients manage or reduce their opioid dependency and continue to manage their pain.
We continue to collaborate with the OCA to develop further tools to help you communicate effectively with patients about opioids and collaborate more effectively with primary care providers. The next step will likely be the launch of a related continuing education opportunity.