People living in rural areas and working in the agricultural industry have a higher risk of developing chronic back pain. Prolonged exposure to the bumps and vibrations from the machinery may contribute to chronic back disorder. It is very challenging for rural people to manage their pain and access to the health care professionals. Now a new research project for managing back pain is being led by Dr. Brenna Bath at the University of Saskatchewan’s Canadian Center for Health and Safety in Agriculture. This back pain study is connecting health teams through video conferencing technology as a way to improve access to care for rural back pain patients. To do this, the back health study team partnered with E-Health Saskatchewan to access the telehealth network. Video linking patients and nurse practitioners from the local facility to health care professionals in larger centers has the potential to reduce chronic back disorders in the countryside.
(Video Source: CTV News Saskatoon)