Get To Know Leroy Ho – Physiotherapist
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Academic Hub
With the priority to improve practiced based evidence and data, we launched a research unit at changepain after receiving funding supports for a project lead through the SSC Surgical Patient Optimization Collaborative and funding supports for a research coordinator through the Veterans Affairs of Canada when we were identified as one of the national Pain Centres of Excellence. We were also fortunate to receive a research grant with UBC Department of Anesthesiology via the SPOR Chronic pain initiative.
Our research projects and multitude of quality improvement endeavours focused on reducing system barriers to access, improving clinical effectiveness of treatments and innovating models of care, epidemiology of pain patients in the community and reviewing active practice innovations in pain care.
One such innovation outcome was an established 20-week prehabilitation program that led to 10% of our study patients cancelling unneeded surgeries.
Since SPOC funding stopped in 2022 and our perioperative study for SPOR Chronic Pain was completed, we continue with active research with the primary support of the Veterans Affairs of Canada.
Recent works and publications
These are recent works and publications since 2020 include:
- Transition to Virtual Care Services during COVID-19 at Canadian Pain Clinics: Survey and Future recommendations
- Surgical Prehabilitation on Chronic Pain Patients in the community: A 20-week clinical trial based on 7 critical components based on the SPOC Strategy
- Study of the activation, compliance and challenges of patients undergoing the Surgical Patient Optimization Collaborative (SPOC) initiative.
- Considerations for Ketamine in the Effective Management of Chronic Pain for Veterans-systematic review
- Macdonald Franklin OSI Research Centre and Changepain Medical & Allied Health Clinic
- Transition to Virtual Care Services During COVID-1 at Canadian Pain Clinics: Survey and Future Recommendations
- Migration of online Services in a Community-based pain clinic catalyzed by the COVID -19 pandemic.
- Frequency and characteristics of patient exclusion criteria in Canadian multi-disciplinary pain treatment facilities: a cross sectional study
- Peri-operative Rehabilitation for Chronic Pain Patients Using Online Approach at a community Based Clinic
- Accessing care in multidisciplinary pain treatment facilities continues to be a challenge in Canada
More Research
As per the Canadian Taskforce Pain Report, pain research and related infrastructure enables discovery, catalyzes innovation, and results in the translation of knowledge into real world impact.
We’re collaborating with different stakeholders across Canada to make these opportunities to our patients:
- Online Non-medication Treatments for Depressed Mood in People with Chronic Pain: A Research Study
- Breathing-Based meditation, delivered virtually for Canadian Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Research Study
- Pain + Mental Health in Canadian Military Veterans / Serving Members & their children (ages 10-40)
- The CircaPain Study
Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans (CPCoE)
Surgical Patient Optimization Collaborative (SPOC)
UBC SPOC
Evaluation of Community Pain Clinic Infrastructure
This project aims to evaluate community-based pain clinic infrastructure that influences the care experience for Veterans living with chronic pain. CPCoE recognizes the important role that community-based pain clinics play in the lives of Veterans. Changepain Medical & Allied Health Clinic, a community-based pain clinic in Vancouver, British Columbia, is undertaking this research to evaluate community-based clinic infrastructure, resources, and processes, and the impact they have on overall patient satisfaction. Findings will be used to optimize the care experience for Veterans at community-based pain clinics across Canada.
This research is being conducted with the sponsorship of the Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans.
changepain (CPC), along with 13 other healthcare facilities, are part of the SPOC program. We studied patients’ current health through 7 main components, including sleep apnea, frailty, physical activity, mental health, nutrition, smoking, and pain. Then based on the results, we will suggest interventions to improve patients’ health prior to operation (pre-operation program). A post-operation program is also offered to empower patients to return to their normal lives sooner through strategies and resources. The quality improvement effort is being conducted with an operational grant from Doctors of BC through the Specialist Services Committee (SSC)
Resources:
- General information about the program – SPOC Services Information.
- BC Surgical Rehabilitation Toolkit
UBC surgical patient outcome collaborative (SPOC) study was a 20-Week program that combined both virtual and on-site interventions that include pain procedures (i.e., Trigger point injections, ultrasound-guided injections). Potential participants will be screened for their eligibility and their baseline performances. Then, they will receive an individualized treatment plan designed by a team of multidisciplinary professionals with the goal to relief pain and improve people’s overall quality of life prior to their surgery. Patient’s information will be ethically collected, using the electron medical record (EMR) system, and analyzed for the development of a prehabilitation protocol.
This research was being conducted with sponsorship of the Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) through the Chronic Pain Network and the University of British Colombia.
About Research & Quality Improvement
To meet the rigourous accreditation standards of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC Pain Clinic, we continuously work to apply the latest in science in medicine, nutrition, movement, brain health and relationships.
changepain patients complete surveys over time. We use this data to:
- Track your progress
- Better understand what works best for whom and how
Want to learn more?
NEWS / UPDATES
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Meet Our New Kinesiologist — Rachel Cheung
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November 2025 GMV Updates
New patients can self-register and attend any Group Medical Visit as the entry route to accessing all other Group Medical…
