St. Luke’s University Health Network announced the launch of Comprehensive Spine, a physical-therapy-first approach program for the treatment of acute back and neck pain.

Designed to avoid costly ER visits, radiographs, opioid prescriptions and unnecessary surgeries, Comprehensive Spine was established when members of St. Luke’s University Health Network realized back and neck pain were one of the most common diagnoses that presented at the network and that patients were entering the system through various departments, according to Aldo Carmona, MD, senior vice president for clinical integration for St. Luke’s University Health Network.