terminate treatment, if necessary. These rights might come into play in cases of negligence or abuse. For example, practitioners can refuse to work with an abusive or unstable client, and clients can refuse treatment from a practitioner they suspect is practicing under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or any illegal substances (Thompson, 2018). Today, massage and bodywork practitioners may serve as part of a multidisciplinary health care team, and have the responsibility to collaborate with other health care providers to help clients achieve wellness goals. Clients regard their health professionals as role models for health and wellness, which adds to the importance of practitioners to maintain a healthy lifestyle and balance in their lives. To be regarded as health care professionals, practitioners must exemplify ethical standards in their daily practice and in the community. Self-care to maintain a successful practice The AMTA provides the following information of the importance of self-care to support a successful practice (AMTA, 2021b): Practicing self-care is as important to your business success as your client and business skills are. If you injure yourself through poor use of body mechanics or physical exhaustion, the effect on your business could be devastating. A healthy self-care routine allows you to take on the demanding yet satisfying work required of massage therapists. Take care of yourself and your business at the same time. The AMTA provides the following tips for self-care on
Both the practitioner and client are ensured the right of refusal. For a client, this means the right to refuse, modify, or terminate treatment regardless of any prior agreements or statements of consent. For a practitioner, this means the right to refuse to treat any person or condition for just and reasonable cause. These rights safeguard a client’s freedom to choose any practitioner and a practitioner’s freedom to Business management and promotion Conducting business in an ethical manner involves treating people fairly and decently, using skills and time effectively, and adhering to high standards. A massage therapist’s promotional materials, record keeping, financial dealings, and conduct in day-to-day business matters should also follow ethical guidelines. Maintaining a practice in good standing means (Salvo, 2019): ● Filing local, state, and federal taxes accurately and on time. ● Discussing and/or displaying fee schedules and billing practices prior to a first meeting. ● Making the client’s welfare the paramount concern. ● Following generally accepted accounting practices. ● Keeping accurate financial records. ● Maintaining patient confidentiality. ● Respecting and collaborating with other professionals ● Making appropriate referrals, if necessary. Any negative perceptions of a massage professional’s marketing materials or advertisements tend to reflect poorly on colleagues and the profession as a whole. Promotional materials should (Salvo, 2019): ● Include the therapist’s license number, place of business, and phone number. ● Refrain from using fear or guilt as motivational tactics ● Avoid unrealistic, misleading, or sensational claims, or promises to cure specific conditions or ailments. ● Avoid using words or images that might be construed as sexual in nature. ● Adhere to truth-in-advertising standards. Self-care techniques Massage and bodywork practitioners are faced with a number of mental and physical challenges that may cause stress due to managing a career or business, helping clients with varying conditions, and providing care that requires a high degree of strenuous, physical activity. Practitioners must prioritize self-care to reduce stress and maintain health and stamina to provide the best care for clients. A regular program of self-care can reduce high blood pressure, improve digestion, promote healthy sleep, and improve memory or concentration (AMTA, 2021b). Documentation and records Proper documentation and record keeping is a critical, routine aspect of a successful practice. Massage therapists or other staff members should keep notes legible and accurate. If therapists or other professionals refer to files at some time in the future (a medical emergency or legal proceedings, for example), the context and details of the notes should be clear. Other healthcare personnel will need to know the background, presenting status, actions taken, and the results, with some discussion of treatment strategies and expected objectives (Thompson, 2018). Therapists should adhere to the following guidelines for preparing and maintaining records (Thompson, 2018): ● Maintain accurate and truthful records: Record only factual information, observations, and actions. Don’t record opinions or conjecture about a client’s condition. When recording statements made by a client (regarding an injury, for example), therapists should use quotation
and off the job (AMTA, 2021b): On-the-job self-care tips include: ● Consistently good body mechanics. ● Breathwork. ● Meditating or praying. ● Quiet breaks. ● Healthy eating. Off-the-job self-care tips include: ● Sacred ritual practice. ● Physical exercise. ● Regular massage for yourself. ● Participation in sports and games. ● Vacations. ● Time spent with friends and family.
marks to demarcate the client’s words. Therapists should keep a separate file for personal notes or any material of a speculative nature. ● Make sure the forms they use to collect client information are appropriate for their practice and cover all pertinent areas. Therapists should also ensure forms are free of errors and are easy to read and understand. Questions should be stated simply. Therapists should avoid jargon or complicated medical terminology, or define terms as needed. In addition, they should review forms on a regular basis, and revise or simplify confusing formatting or content. ● Take a comprehensive case history and review it with the client before beginning treatment. This should include an overview of the client’s general state of health and thorough medical history, the reason(s) for seeking massage therapy, onset and
EliteLearning.com/Massage-Therapy
Book Code: MFL1225B
Page 10
Powered by FlippingBook