Addressing discrepancies between employer expectations and professional standards Flashcards
If employer request to post an ads highlighting I am a specialist & have 99% success rate
State the issue
- It is my responsibility to review all ads created about me
- does not follow my professional standards as ads can’t promise certain Rx result
- cannot state false information - I am not a specialist in vestibular conditions
Discuss alternative and agree on a plan
- tell employer that he cannont post this information–>my duty to ensure ads are true–>Can’t state I am a specialist or guarantee treatment results
- Could offer to create a socail media post to highlight my new position
If disagreement contiued
- If the employer decided to post, I would immediately request that post be taken down
- I would contract my College if the post awas not taken down
- This should be a red flay that the employer will not respect future boundaries and I should consider leaving the clinic.
Supervisor ask to treat a condition that you never treat before
State the issue
- It is my responsibility to my Pt to practice in a safe and competent manner within my individual SOP.
- If I did not feel I had th skills necessary to treat this Pt, I have a duty not to treat
- Regardless of how the supervisor wants me to act, I need to work within my scope and set my professional boundaries
Discuss alternative and agree on a plan
I could do my due diligence to learn about this condition
- I could contact my PA’s librarian and see if they have any resources on how to support a Pt with this condition
- I could talk to a mentor and ask how they would treat this Pt and learn fro mtheir expertise.
- I would be transparent with the situation and let the Pt or their SDM know that is my first time treating this condition
- I would inform them of the work I did to learn about the condition and offer them alternative options for care
- I would then ask for informed consent to treat.
If I did not feel like I had the skills despite effort to widen my knowledge, I would talk to my supervisor about alternative options for this Pt
- Offer other options within the community or a home care PT that could come into the facility
If disagreement contiued
- If my supervisor insist, I would decline and consider leaving my position as my supervisor does no respect my professional boundaries
- I could also consider speaking to someone who is of a higher authority (e.g. Mx team) to find an alternate solution
License suspended, Owner ask you to continue to treat and bill under his name
Issue
- Work with a suspended license
- Billing fraud: Invoice must clearly indicate the individual who is providing treatment and the correct registration no. of PT providing Rx
Discuss alternative & agree on a plan
- Immediately talk to owner and advise them that this is not appropriate
- Can’t work as a PT with a suspened license–>No exceptions/flexibility
Suggestion: work as a PTA until the license reinstate–>stay within in the SOP of a PTA
- No Ax/interpret findings/modify the Pt’s rehabilitation program and other tasks within SOP of PT
What you will do if disagreement continue
- Unethical suggestion=red flag about their professional boundaries–>Take extra care to watch that my billing info was previously used correctly
- Whether or not the owner was to proceed with fraudulent billing–>Report to the college due to the gravity of the suggestions–>Could be a pattern of previous fraudulent billing that may need to be investiaged by the College
Cash Bonus for referral to another practitioner within the clinic
Issue
- PT can’t benefit from a Pt referral
- Referral should be based on Pt needs
- Conflict of interest: Pt can finanically gain from this policy
Alternative
- I cannot partake in this clinic policy
- This policy does not put the Pt’s needs first. Therapists have influence over Pt and Pts trust that their needs would go before the clinics
**- Proper way: provide a list of providers and allow the Pt to make their own decision
**
If disagreement
- Meet with one of the clinic owner to discuss the issue
- If proceed, I would report this to the College
Clinic ask you to use PTA for every Pts
Issue
- Use of PTA’s should be based on need and not based on a Pt wide mandate
- Pt can consent or refuse care from a PTA
Alternative
- I would consider the use of PTA on an individual Pt basis. If I thought it is best for their care, I would talk to the Pt and gain informed consent before using a PTA in their care plan.
If disagreement
- Meet with one of the clinic owner to discuss the issue
- If proceed, I would report this to the College
Use a title which is still undergoing certificaiton in the business card
Issue
- I am not yet certified–>should not use those credentials on my business cards
Alternative
- I would tell the clinic owner to put those business card aside and wait to use them once I have become fully certified
If disagreement
- If I found out that the clinic manager used those cards, I would contact my College immediately
- I would remove my business cards
- I would consider leaving the clinic as this is a red flag that my clinic owner does not respet my professional standards
Using Dr. title on a business card
Allowed, only if the PT completed an accredited DPT program
- use the initials DPT after their name and PT title
Can’t use the title doctor in their interactions with patients
Can use title doctor in non-clinical settings
- with professional colleagues, on research papers, in an academic setting
Referral from local sporting goods store if mention them in the social media post
- Clear conflict of interest and should not be implemented
- PT can’t benefit/give benefits for Pt referrals - Refferals should be based on what the Pt needs
Can’t perform an thorough initial assessment within 30 min as suggested by the clinic
Issue
- Not enough time to complete a thorough initial assessment in 30 mins
Discuss alternative and agree on a plan
- Let the owner know that I would like to inc. my IA time to 1 hour.
- Once I feel like I had more experience and ability to conduct a thorough assessment within 30 min–>dec. appointment length
If disagreement
- My professional responsibility to remove myself from the clinic setting
- Professional duety to my Pt to provide a thorough assessment
- Leave the clinic and find another clinic that support my need for longer initial assessments
NMES pads worn out, clinic owner ask you to continue to use that as they haven’t buy the new one
Issue
- Not safe to use the electrode pads in their current state
Alternative
- Ask them to order the electrode ASAP
Find out their hesitation in buying the elctrodes
- busy schedule–>offer to use the clinic’s credit card to purchase them for the clinic
- Dun know which ones to order–>send them links to site that sell the appropriate electrode pads
- Dun think is necessary–>educate: the NMES pose safety risk on Pt e.g. burn/skin irritation if using the worn out pad
Disagreement continued
- Still hesitant–>purchase the pads myself (low-cost item)
- If dun understand the importance–>red flag to keep in mind moving forward at this clinic–>similar situation happened again–>consider leaving the clinic
