Course Overview

This course addresses the principles of Informed Consent, Confidentiality and Cultural sensitivity; the value of good health records and good labelling practices. It will explain not only what you have to do but the reasons behind those requirements. Failing to provide adequate information may lay a practitioner open to a charge of battery or negligence, even if the treatment was performed competently. The ethical and legal implications of Informed Consent are complex and high court rulings are discussed. What are the circumstances that allow disclosure of information given in clinical confidence or even mandate it? Just how safe are toxic herbs and what are the risks and safeguards? How to manage a complaint made against you. Part 1 covers Informed consent. Topics include: Professional ethics and legal implications relating to informed consent; Health literacy and patient vulnerability; Common language obligations; The process of providing information to obtain informed consent; Consent forms; Legal capacity; High court rulings. Part 2 covers Privacy and security. Topics include: Privacy and confidentiality; Appropriate and inappropriate disclosure; Data security and retention. Part 3 covers Social and cultural sensitivity. Topics include: Diversity in our community; Reporting on domestic violence of adults; Reporting on domestic violence and child abuse. Part 4 covers Health records and invoicing. Topics include: The value of good record-keeping; Specific requirements; Translated records; Intake form; Records for initial consultation vs follow-ups; Tax invoice and accounting records. Part 5 covers Herb labelling and adverse event reporting. Topics include: Problems and complaints that have occurred; Guidelines for the safe practice of Chinese herbal medicine; Nomenclature; Patient advice and information; Patient records; Prescriptions and labels; Adverse event reporting. Part 6 covers Toxic herbs. Topics include: Toxic herbs and their safety in the hands of a registered practitioner properly trained in Chinese herbal medicine: Ma Huang, Zhi Fu Zi, and herbs containing amygdalin: Xing Ren, Tao Ren, Yu Li Ren; History of submissions, reasons for restrictions, actual risks and safeguards. Part 7 covers Managing a complaint: what to do when a complaint is made against you.

Course Objectives

• Understand the ethical and legal implications of informed consent, the issues of health literacy and patient vulnerability. Understand when disclosure of confidential information is inappropriate and when it is appropriate or even mandatory
• Be aware of community diversity. Learn to recognise signs of adult domestic violence and abuse, including emotional abuse, and the emotional and sexual abuse and neglect of children. Understand the different reporting responsibilities
• Learn the value of keeping good health records, what information should be included on the intake form, the initial consultation record, and follow up records. Understand what needs to be included on herb labels and patient information sheets
• Understand the toxicity of some herbs. Learn the risks and how traditional preparation methods reduce the toxicity
• Understand how best to manage a complaint if one is made against you

Course Outline

0 hrs - 1.5 hrsEthical and legal implications of informed consent, health literacy, patient vulnerability, the process of providing relevant information to obtain informed consent; limitations of consent forms; legal capacity; High court rulings

1.5 hrs - 2 hrsExplanation of privacy and confidentiality issues, appropriate and inappropriate disclosure with examples, data security and data retention requirements

2 hrs - 2.5 hrsDiversity in our community, its social ramifications, the need to support those communities. Adult domestic violence and reporting responsibilities. Child physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Our reporting responsibilities and protections

2.5 hrs - 3 hrsRecommendations for health record keeping. The value of good record keeping to the practitioner, specific requirements, translated records, the intake form, records for initial consultation vs follow-ups, and tax invoice and accounting records

3 hrs - 3.25 hrsProblems and complaints that have occurred; guidelines for the safe practice of Chinese herbal medicine; nomenclature; patient advice and information; patient records; prescriptions and labels; adverse event reporting.

3.25 hrs - 3.75 hrsIssues relating to the toxicity of some herbs and how traditional preparation methods reduce the toxicity: Ma Huang, Zhi Fu Zi, and herbs containing amygdalin: Xing Ren, Tao Ren, Yu Li Ren. Restrictions and actual risks and safeguards.

3.75 hrs - 4 hrsAdvice on how to manage a complaint made against you effectively and professionally, and how to use the experience to improve your practice

Course Overview

This course discusses licensing and registration requirements, professional training standards, comparing those for registered/licensed acupuncturists, dry needling and medical acupuncture and looks at the risks of inadequate training. It also describes how to avoid or manage potential clinical risk in regard to pneumothorax and other tissue damage, examines the intelligent interpretation of anatomical structures, and also explains risk management in herbal practice in regard to the potential adverse effects or toxic herbs, including the reasons behind safe, accepted preparation methods and dosage recommendations. The risk potential of herbal and dietary supplements is also covered. Professional codes, including those not commonly known to practitioners are explained with a view to avoiding a complaint. Also covered are the obligations of a practitioner in regard to employment and supervision, communication, the need for good patient records, managing referrals, as well as the issues of honest promotion and avoidance of over-servicing. Information is also provided as to how regulatory authorities may handle a complaint.

Course Objectives

• To understand the level of training and competence needed for safe effective practice and a practitioner’s responsibility to be properly trained to avoid or minimise risk.
• To understand methods and safeguards of clinically safe acupuncture and herbal practice with focus on pneumothorax, tissue damage and toxic herbs.
• To understand professional codes of conduct including clinical risk management, social diversity, employment and supervision of unregistered practitioners, patient records, referrals, promotion and over-servicing.
• Being aware of the various ways complaints against practitioners may be handled by regulatory authorities via auditing, clinical assessments, supervision and training.

Course Outline

0 hrs - 1.5 hrsLicensing and registration requirements are discussed in regard to adequate training and competence. Definitions and training standards of acupuncture vs dry needling vs medical acupuncture and potential risks of inadequate training are given.

1.5 hrs - 3 hrsThe focus is on risk management in acupuncture and herbal practice. It covers pneumothorax, tissue damage, interpretation of anatomical structures, the toxicity and adverse effects of some herbs and supplements, and the safe use of “toxic” herbs.

3 hrs - 4 hrsAreas of professional conduct discussed are standard of care, cultural diversity, employment of unregistered practitioners. Sound communication, referrals, recommendations and the issues of misleading information and over-servicing are explained.

4 hrs - 4.75 hrsThe course includes an outline of various management methods employed by regulatory authorities. Practitioner management of these requirements is explained.