We are expanding CareChain to better serve patients in the province of Quebec. We are looking for spine specialists in the regions of Montreal, Quebec City, Laval and Gatineau.

CareChain supports two types of spine surgeon roles: full users and affiliates.

Affiliates are faxed triaged patient referrals from CareChain and will be responsible for scheduling the patient at a mutually appropriate time. Full users maintain appointment availabilities in CareChain, and we will coordinate patient appointment scheduling (including cancellations and rescheduling) with respect to your availability.

CareChain is a turnkey practice management solution for full users. With CareChain, you will be able to complete documentation using the platform’s smart charting and workflow management features and exchange relevant patient information with other health care providers (through CareChain’s automated referrals and consult notes). CareChain’s features are designed to save you time and money running your clinical practice so that you can focus on patient care – features include:

+ Bilingual (En/Fr) user dashboards (provider/patient)
+ Online appointment booking
+ Custom branding
+ Multi-clinic schedules
+ Email/SMS notifications
+ Intake and follow-up questionnaires
+ Smart charting and workflow management
+ Patient care plans
+ Automated referrals and consult notes (electronic and fax)
+ Two-factor authentication
+ Virtual practice groups
+ Integrated virtual care
+ Appointment scheduling support
+ Tier 1 technical support (provider/patient)
and much more!

Whether you are a spine specialist in Montreal or anywhere in Quebec, CareChain is free! Triaged referrals are provided to you with the understanding that referred patients will be seen in an expedited timeframe.

As an independent health care provider using CareChain, you determine which health care services are provided using CareChain, the locations from which such health care services are provided, and when and for how long such health care services are offered through CareChain. You have complete discretion to engage in activities or other business or employment endeavors.

Spine surgeons will receive patient appointment bookings through CareChain (full users) or referrals by fax from CareChain (affiliates).

In the same manner as a typical patient in your outpatient practice.

Suitability for surgery would be decided by you following your assessment. If the patient is referred through CareChain for surgical assessment, it implies that 92% of these patients are identified as being suitable for surgery by the ensuing surgical assessment, some of the patients may not proceed with surgery after the informed consent discussion despite their suitability. Some patients are referred for diagnostic reasons (non-surgical referral) due to underlying red flags or complex past medical history, these clients generally only need expertise and are less commonly suitable surgery.

CareChain supports two types of custodians of patient records: health care providers and partners (e.g., healthcare institutions) .

As a care provider, you remain the custodian of patient records connected to any health care services provided using CareChain, unless you are providing health care services from a practice location operated by a health care partner. In such cases, the health care partner will be the custodian of patient records connected to the health care services.

Please submit the registration form. A CareChain representative will be in contact with you with next steps.

Please contact us.

Spine surgeons are medical doctors who are qualified to diagnose and treat spine conditions. Both orthopedic surgeons (also known as orthopedists or orthopods) and neurosurgeons (also known as brain surgeons) can specialize in treating spine disorders and injuries. These spine specialists offer clinical consultations, prescribe treatments, perform non-operative and surgical procedures. They may work in academic medical facilities, private clinics, hospitals, and other healthcare settings.

In Canada, spine surgeons must have completed four years of medical school, passed a medical licensing examination, and trained in an approved residency program. During their residency, doctors who aim to become spine surgeons may specialize in either orthopedic surgery or neurosurgery, with a subspeciality in spinal surgery. Physicians who specialize in neurosurgery must complete six years of resident training, whereas those who specialize in orthopedic surgery must complete five years of resident training. To earn their board certification, orthopedic and neurosurgery residents must pass examinations administered by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Following this, orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons may complete a spine fellowship program to build upon their specialized training in spine surgery.

Spine surgeons treat a wide array of spine problems arising from injuries (e.g., vertebral dislocation or fracture), congenital conditions (e.g., kyphosis, lordosis, scoliosis), and degenerative conditions (e.g., degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, osteoarthritis, slipped or herniated discs).

Detailed conditions treated by a spine specialist

• Degenerative disc disease (DDD): Degenerative Disc Disease is a condition where the spinal discs between vertebrae deteriorate over time, leading to pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility in the affected area of the spine.
• Herniated disc: A herniated disc occurs when the cushion-like discs between the vertebrae rupture or bulge, causing pain, numbness, and weakness.
• Sciatica: Sciatica is a condition characterized by pain radiating along the sciatic nerve, often caused by compression or irritation of the nerve roots in the lumbar spine.
• Scoliosis, spinal deformities: Scoliosis and spinal deformities refer to abnormal curvatures or misalignments of the spine. They can cause pain, postural issues, and breathing difficulties.
• Spinal stenosis: Spinal stenosis is a condition characterized by the narrowing of the spinal canal, leading to compression of the spinal cord and nerves. Symptoms include pain, numbness, and weakness.
• Spondylolisthesis: Spondylolisthesis is a condition in which a vertebra slips out of its normal position, usually forward or backward, causing pain, instability, and potential nerve compression.
• Vertebral compression fracture (VCF): A vertebral compression fracture is a collapse or breakage of a vertebra, often caused by osteoporosis or trauma. It can result in back pain, height loss, and limited mobility.
• Spinal infections: Spinal infections are bacterial or fungal infections that affect the spine, causing pain, inflammation, and potentially serious complications.
• Spinal tumors: A spinal tumor is an abnormal growth or mass in the spinal column. It can be benign or malignant, causing pain, neurological symptoms, and spinal instability.

Your primary care provider should investigate back pain that does not improve with conservative medical treatment, including anti-inflammatory medication, heat/cold therapy, and physical therapy. Chronic pain that impacts your everyday functioning, strength, range of motion, and mobility should not be ignored. If you experience loss of movement, weakness, or persistent pain that affects any of your arms and legs, or back pain accompanied with fever and weight loss, consider asking your doctor or CareChain physiotherapist if a referral to a spine surgeon is right for you.

In your first appointment at the spine specialist clinic, the doctor will ask you questions about your condition(s), general health, medical history, medications, and review any diagnostic imaging tests (e.g., X-rays, MRI). He will have access to your information on CareChain, but come prepared to discuss your medical history, including which positions and activities are painful for you, and the impact your condition has on your functioning. The spine surgeon will perform a physical examination to assess your mobility, reflexes, and vitals. After the examination, he or she will discuss treatment options, including anti-inflammatory medication, physiotherapy, and/or epidural steroid injections. In severe cases, the spine surgeon may recommend a surgical intervention.