DR. DOUGLAS KREBS RECEIVES NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR PROVIDING QUALITY BACK PAIN CARE

Back Pain Recognition Program focuses on high-value, patient-centered care.

WASHINGTON- National committee for quality assurance (NCQA) today announced that Dr. Douglas Krebs of Chicago has received Recognition from the Back Pain Recognition Program (BPRP) for providing superior care to his patient's suffering from low back pain.

The Back Pain Recognition program is designed to improve the quality care to the nearly 30 million Americans who experience low back pain, and by motivating other clinicians and chiropractors to document and improve the delivery of spinal care. To receive recognition, which is valid for two years, Dr. Douglas Krebs submitted data demonstrating performance that meets the Program's key measures. These measures include appropriate imaging for acute back pain and recommendation for exercise, among others.

Back pain is among the most common ailments in America. Each year, nearly 1 in 9 Americans experience pain severe enough to impair their usual daily activities. Treatment costs total approximately $91 billion a year and accounts for 25 percent of all workers' compensation claims.  The BPPR is the first independent program to systematically evaluate back pain care. NCQA developed the program's requirements from widely accepted medical evidence with significant input from back pain specialists and health plan and employer representatives. BPPR-Recognized clinicians provide patients with the care that best meets their needs, restores health and mobility and avoids unnecessary treatment and procedures.

“Needless imaging and procedures provide no real benefit to patients who suffer from back pain,” said Margaret E. O'Kane, President, National Committee for Quality Assurance. "By earning recognition, Chicago Spine and Sports has demonstrated that they consistently provide proven, evidenced-based case to their patient's with low back pain.”

To find out if your physician has been recognized by the Back Pain Recognition Program or for further information, please visit www.NCQA.org\BPRP.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2010, NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies as a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes conditions and practices in key areas of performance.  NCQA's Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Sets (HEDIS ®) is the most widely use performance measured tool in health care. NCQA is committed to providing healthcare quality information for consumers, purchasers, health care providers and researchers.