ETHICS: PRACTICE MANAGEMENT

Course overview

Professionalism and ethical behavior go hand-in-hand in the development and management of a massage practice. From defining your professional scope of practice to implementing policies and procedures, massage businesses that hold legal and ethical principles as the foundation for all decisions involving client welfare convey integrity and impact the entire profession positively. This course provides an overview of professionalism and scope of practice for massage therapists from the legal, educational, competency and self-accountability standpoints. The roles of professional codes of ethics and standards of practice with regard to ethical behavior and business practices are discussed within the parameters of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB), an independent professional board that insures competency within the massage therapy profession. Setting up a professional practice and managing it involves knowledge of local, state and federal requirements pertinent to business licenses and permits, insurance coverage, and legal business relationships. Further, once your business is in place, clear policies and procedures must be established that define services, appointments, and your fee structure. Finally, ethical marketing and referrals sustain your business as well as a genuine desire to assist others in their healing process.