Terry Casey – Ethical and Legal Issues in Private Practice: Navigating the Top Challenges

Outline

Private Practice Best Practices – Avoiding Legal & Ethical Issues

• What Is and Isn’t a Private Practice
• What are the Goals for Your Business?
• Choose an Ethical Model to Refer to and Apply
• Services You Do and Don’t Provide
• Screening for Potential Clients
• Policies – The Good, The Bad & the Ugly
• Create an Effective Policy Plan for Your Practice
• Intake and Informed Consent Process & Policies
• Understanding Risk – What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You
• How to Avoid Being Sued – An Ounce of Prevention

Financial and Business Issues in Private Practice – Ethical Dilemmas

• Referrals, Gifts & Bartering – Ethical Issues
  • Example Case – “Gifts, Referrals & More: Stephen’s New Practice”
• Marketing Your Practice and Yourself to the Public – What’s Ethical?
  • Client Testimonials
  • Example Case – “Dr. Jones’ Website”
• Fee Policy – Applying Best Practices to Avoid Trouble
  • Usual & Customary Fee
  • Sliding Scales
  • Pro Bono Publico
• Insurance Provider Networks
• Unhappy Customers – How to Avoid Legal Issues
  • Example Case – “The Unhappy Client: Linda’s Refund Demand”
• Multiple Services – Blurred Lines & Ethics
  • Example Case – “Maggie’s New Revenue Stream”
• LLC vs. Partnership vs. Sole Proprietorship – What’s Best for You?
• Multiple Private Practice Roles – What Hat Do You Wear?
• Relationships with Colleagues/Competitors

Boundary Issues in Private Practice – Top Challenges

• Why Boundary Issues are more Important in Private Practice
• Isolation – The Slippery Slope of Multiple Relationships
• Power Differentials – Clients, Employees, Supervisees
• Top Boundary Challenges in Private Practice
  • Example Case – “The Coffee Shop”
  • Example Case – “The Long-term Client”

Technology in Private Practice – Legal & Ethical Issues

• Social Media Policies to Implement
  • Example Case – “Ashley’s Tweets”
• Distance Therapy – 6 Keys to Practice
• Online Listing Services
  • Practice Management Software and Electronic Medical Records

Record-Keeping in a Private Practice

• Establishing Written Record-keeping Policies
• HIPAA – What you Need to Know
• FERPA – What you Need to Know
• Privacy Policies

Working with Minors in Private Practice

• Informed Consent Policies & Procedures for Minors
• Establishing Who has Authority for Consent
• Know Your Rights – Responding to Records Requests for Minors
  • Example Case – “Celeste and Her Father”