Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/108504
Referring Out Stay in Scope by Building a Network of Health-Care Professionals By Charlotte Michael Versagi When it comes to helping clients with complicated medical histories, massage therapy may only be able to scratch the surface. You cannot do it alone, nor should you try, thanks to your education's scope of practice. Referring out to capable professionals is the wisest path to success—for both you and your client. Today, massage therapy is often viewed as health care—at the very least a huge component of wellness; this means you are a health-care/wellness provider. As such, you now belong to a network of professionals, so you need to start thinking like part of a team. Your goals with a complicated client are to create a plan to address the complaints that massage therapy can affect, outline her overall concerns that cannot be addressed solely with massage therapy, refer her to appropriate professionals who can address her specific needs, maintain an ongoing massage therapy relationship with your client, and maintain an ongoing professional relationship with those specialists to whom you refer. It's easier to do than it sounds. 92 massage & bodywork march/april 2013