Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1488451
L i s te n to T h e A B M P Po d c a s t a t a b m p.co m /p o d c a s t s o r w h e reve r yo u a cce s s yo u r favo r i te p o d c a s t s 61 therapist who demonstrates such commitment to their clients' well-being? And these communications benefit the profession, which is well represented by your clear dedication to excellence. Most of all, they benefit our clients, who depend on us to have their best interests at heart. What happens if, after gathering as much information as you can, you still don't feel confident about your plans? This is where the word prudent in the description of standard of care is important. Prudence dictates that if you're not sure that your plan of action is safe, you either need to change your strategy, or you must choose not to work at all—which can be the right decision, if the client's or your well-being would otherwise be compromised. But truly, between your own experience, your education, and your many sources of reliable information (which include your clients' health-care providers), you almost always have the tools you need to make safe and effective clinical decisions. It's not a doctor's job to decide whether your work is safe. But a doctor or other health-care provider can have an informative conversation with you about some of the variables that must feed into your clinical decisions. This kind of consultation is not the same as getting permission—it is so much better. Ruth Werner is a former massage therapist, a writer, and an NCBTMB-approved continuing education provider. She wrote A Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology (available at booksofdiscovery.com), now in its seventh edition, which is used in massage schools worldwide. Werner is available at ruthwerner.com. Most massage therapists who don't work in medical or clinical settings don't expect to see clients with complex health situations very often, but it happens all the time. WHERE DOES THIS LAND US? Consulting with a health-care provider can feel like a lot of work, and to avoid all the fuss, it is tempting to assume that everything will be OK if we just do super-light massage and hope for the best. But is that choice in the best interest of the client? I suggest no. Establishing communication with a client's health-care provider can feel intimidating. We have to go through extra steps to ensure privacy and security. We must represent ourselves professionally and carefully. We need to be thorough but succinct. It's a skill that takes practice, but I hope the samples we've shared here will give you a model for how you can develop your communications about your clients who have complex health situations. When we represent ourselves well to our clients' other providers, we build professional bridges that benefit us. As a doctor, wouldn't you be interested in referring more patients to a massage VIDEO: "WHY 'GET A DOCTOR'S NOTE' ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH, AND WHAT IS BETTER" 1. Open your camera 2. Scan the code 3. Tap on notification 4. Watch!