Living with ongoing hip, knee, or low back pain can wear you down—not just physically, but mentally too. The good news? If you’re an Ontario resident, there are programs designed to help you get expert advice and move forward faster.
Rapid Access Clinics (RACs) are part of a province-wide initiative that improves access to high-quality care for joint and spine issues. These clinics connect people with the right professionals at the right time—cutting down on waitlists and reducing uncertainty. They also help ensure your care is based on what will actually help—not guesswork.
Hip & Knee Rapid Access Clinic
The Hip and Knee Rapid Access Clinic (formerly known as the Total Joint Assessment Clinic) is designed to provide timely, high-quality care for people with hip or knee osteoarthritis. If you’re experiencing persistent joint pain or mobility issues, this clinic connects you with an Advanced Practice Provider (APP)—a specially trained physiotherapist or chiropractor—who performs a focused assessment and helps determine the best next steps.
While no hands-on treatment is provided, and exercise prescription is limited, these assessments identify whether you may benefit from surgery, rehab, or both. If surgery is needed, the clinic fast-tracks your referral to an orthopedic surgeon. If not, the APP will guide you toward evidence-based self-management strategies or refer you to a rehab professional who can help.
Interprofessional Spine Assessment & Education Clinic (ISAEC)
For low back or sciatic pain that’s lasted more than six weeks (but less than a year), the ISAEC—also known as the Rapid Access Clinic for Low Back Pain (RAC-LBP) —offers a focused path forward.
This program provides timely access to expert assessment, education, and self-management strategies, along with expedited referrals for imaging or specialists if needed. Referrals can be submitted by a family doctor or nurse practitioner. Once accepted, you’ll meet with an APP who specializes in low back pain. Their job is to assess your condition, explain your options, and offer a plan that may include movement strategies, home exercises, or referrals for additional care if necessary.
So Where Does Physiotherapy Fit the RAC Programs?
If rehab is the best approach, that’s where clinics like ours come in. While the RAC programs are an excellent way to get clarity, they don’t replace ongoing, hands-on treatment. If you’re referred for rehab, the goal is to connect you with a professional who has the right training and experience for your specific issue.
At Evolution Physiotherapy, we often support clients after they’ve gone through RAC—or we help them access it if we think it could benefit their care. We offer personalized rehab that picks up where RAC leaves off—focused on building strength, easing pain, providing post-surgical rehabilitation and helping you return to the activities that matter most. Allen Hicks, the Clinic Owner at Evolution Physiotherapy, worked as an APP in the Rapid Access Clinic for Low Back Pain for the last 2 years.
Not sure if you’re a candidate for one of these programs? Book a consultation with one of our therapists today—we’ll help you figure out the best next step for your recovery.