Many aestheticians coming from the day spa industry into the medical spa environment have to learn a whole new way of documentation as a client now transforms into a patient.
Aestheticians who are used to time and date stamping treatments with occasional side or progress notes, now are expected to chart everything they say and do during a patient's treatment. Along with charting comes treatment consent forms, HIPPA Forms, photography consent forms, payment agreement forms, anatomical charting forms, etc.
Medical Aestheticians who have any contact with a patient as any part of their treatment, should be charting everything from follow-up calls, to topical treatments used and the patient's response, to laser settings, test patch tests, follow up appointments, and the patient's tolerances to treatments.
The once client file has now transformed into a medical record by all standards which could stand up in a court of law. Some aestheticians I have spoken with have not learned the art of charting and feel they should not be required to do so.
Why is it medical patient charting so important? Unfortunately, there have been a number of recent horror stories hitting the media, especially when it comes to medical spa therapies that involve lasers and IPL treatments. These media reports are a catalyst of change to medical laser laws across the U.S. Independent of whether the MD is on site or off site, they (along with the medical esthetician) can be held legally responsible for any law suits filed by a patient at the hands of a clinician, laser technician, or medical Esthetician.
While it may seem harsh, even the most skilled and brilliant esthetician should be terminated if they refuse to properly chart and document a patient's care. The rule of thumb is just this... if you didn't chart it, it didn't happen.
If you're a medical esthetician performing medical treatments it's up to you to know what your medical spas requirements are around patient charting and what potential problems exist if you fail to live up to these new requirements. - 15437
Aestheticians who are used to time and date stamping treatments with occasional side or progress notes, now are expected to chart everything they say and do during a patient's treatment. Along with charting comes treatment consent forms, HIPPA Forms, photography consent forms, payment agreement forms, anatomical charting forms, etc.
Medical Aestheticians who have any contact with a patient as any part of their treatment, should be charting everything from follow-up calls, to topical treatments used and the patient's response, to laser settings, test patch tests, follow up appointments, and the patient's tolerances to treatments.
The once client file has now transformed into a medical record by all standards which could stand up in a court of law. Some aestheticians I have spoken with have not learned the art of charting and feel they should not be required to do so.
Why is it medical patient charting so important? Unfortunately, there have been a number of recent horror stories hitting the media, especially when it comes to medical spa therapies that involve lasers and IPL treatments. These media reports are a catalyst of change to medical laser laws across the U.S. Independent of whether the MD is on site or off site, they (along with the medical esthetician) can be held legally responsible for any law suits filed by a patient at the hands of a clinician, laser technician, or medical Esthetician.
While it may seem harsh, even the most skilled and brilliant esthetician should be terminated if they refuse to properly chart and document a patient's care. The rule of thumb is just this... if you didn't chart it, it didn't happen.
If you're a medical esthetician performing medical treatments it's up to you to know what your medical spas requirements are around patient charting and what potential problems exist if you fail to live up to these new requirements. - 15437
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