In 2002, the Coalition convened a Back Pain Management Task Force to address variations in spine care—and the unusually high numbers of spinal surgeries
within Genesee County. With a charge to assess the current system of treating back pain, identify causes, develop interventions, educate patients and employers, and implement best-practice guidelines, members of the task force went to work.
In 2003, the group released its Back Pain Management Report, which outlined a comprehensive strategy to address the problem. Highlights of the report included recommendations that physicians become familiar with Clinical Practice Guidelines and limit spinal surgery to those patients carefully screened and experiencing chronic spine pain.
The Back Pain Management Report received much attention locally as well as throughout Michigan. Requests were made to the Coalition to report these results to health care professionals across the state.