Synopses & Reviews
Mental health professionals in private practice strive for clinical and financial success. Yet, there are myriad ethical issues and dilemmas awaiting every practitioner that serve as challenges to being successful for even the most clinically competent and savvy business persons. Some ethics issues are obvious while others are more subtle and can undermine the best intentions of practitioners who have not prepared for these challenges. Graduate training programs in the mental health professions offer courses in ethics for their students, but few offer practical training in the application of ethics to the business of practice. A resource focusing specifically on these challenges has been sorely needed.
The Ethics of Private Practice helps mental health professionals understand the essential ethical issues related to many of the challenges of being in independent mental health practice. Seasoned clinicians Barnett, Zimmerman, and Walfish offer readers astute insight to help them build a practice that is designed to minimize unintended ethical violations and reduce associated risks. Each chapter focuses on a major aspect of the business of practice and incorporates relevant standards from the ethics codes of four mental health professions. Topics addressed include planning one's private practice, successfully running and managing one's practice, documentation and record keeping, dealing with third parties and protecting confidentiality, managing practice finances and making financial decisions, staff training and office policies, advertising and the effective marketing of one's practice, continuing professional development activities, and the closing of a private practice. The authors discuss important questions such as: What do you do as a practitioner when your best referral source wants to become your client? What is appropriate use of social media? How should you respond when a managed care company denies authorization for treatment for a client that you know is in obvious need of further treatment? Full of practical tips that can be readily implemented, The Ethics of Private Practice is sure to be a handy, go-to resource for mental health clinicians in private practice.
Review
"Every counselor and mental health professional will benefit from this practical resource covering ethical challenges in running a private practice. The astounding amount of helpful advice provided by these highly qualified and experienced authors is not to be found in most other ethics books."-Patricia Keith-Spiegel, PhD, Voran Honors Distinguished Professor Emerita of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Ball State University, Co-author, Ethics in Psychology and the Mental Health Professions, and Author, Red Flags in Psychotherapy
"You will feel grateful to have this book as a resource. Reading the chapters is like having a series of sessions with a wise mentor who is helping you raise and weigh the most important options at hand before making a professional decision. Whether you are starting out, transitioning, or simply wanting to have a deeper awareness of how to minimize risk and uncertainty, this book is surely a major step in aiding you to have a more fulfilling and informed experience as a clinician or consultant. A must-read for professionals in today's changing, challenging, and litigious mental health scene." -Robert J. Wicks, PsyD, Author, The Resilient Clinician
"I strongly recommend this very clarifying and comprehensive book written by seasoned clinicians, which applies to all aspects of the delivery of mental health treatment. It is thoroughly educational and thought-provoking for all therapists, from novice to experienced, those in private practice or public service sectors, and agency workers to academicians." -Noreen Keenan, LCSW, PhD, Private Practice, Orlando, FL
"The Ethics of Private Practice provides a conversational approach focused on both new
and experienced private practice clinicians, in this practical and engaging guide to private practice ethics for mental health clinicians. The authors utilize not only APA's code, but those of AAMFT, ACA, and NASW. They also include legal information (such as HIPAA) and models for ethical decision-making. [I]t is relevant and important to ethical practice with every person, organization, and community." --Shoshana D. Kerewsky, The Oregon Psychologist
"Lest anyone think that this book is just another one of those tediously boring books of dusty old rules, let me assure you that it was neither tedius nor boring. Instead, the contents elicited a reaction that was more visceral than cerebral. Private practitioners who also teach will find the 10 pages of indexing helpful. The authors do a great job of organizing practical tips integrated with a scholarly review of relevant literature. The authors are certainly at the leading edge by discussing the broad topic of continuing professional development (CPD) rather than simply continuing education (CE). [This] book is such a good idea that one must ask why it wasn't written earlier. The wisdom is relevant to practitioners at all stages of career development." --William Doverspike, The Independent Practitioner
Synopsis
The Ethics of Private Practice helps mental health professionals understand the essential ethical issues related to the many challenges of being in independent practice. Seasoned clinicians Barnett, Zimmerman, and Walfish offer readers astute insight into building a practice that is designed to minimize unintended ethics violations and reduce associated risks. Each chapter focuses on a major aspect of the business of practice and incorporates relevant standards from the ethics codes of four mental health professions. Topics addressed include planning and successfully managing a practice, documentation and record keeping, dealing with third parties and protecting confidentiality, managing practice finances, staff training and office policies, advertising and marketing a practice, continuing professional development activities, and the closing of a private practice. Full of practical tips that can be readily implemented, this handy guide will be the go-to resource for all mental health clinicians in private practice.
About the Author
Jeffrey E. Barnett, PsyD, ABPP, is a licensed psychologist with 30 years of experience in independent practice. He also is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Loyola University Maryland, where he teaches courses in ethics and professional practice. He is a past Chair of the APA Ethics Committee and has published and presented widely on ethics and professional practice issues for mental health professionals.
Jeffrey Zimmerman, PhD, ABPP, has been in private practice since 1981. From working solo to managing a large multi-site inter-disciplinary group, Dr. Zimmerman has dealt with the complex challenges faced by clinicians who are trying to run a successful mental health practice in an ethically responsible manner. He is also a Founding Partner of The Practice Institute, LLC.
Steven Walfish, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and has been in independent practice since 1982. He has built three successful private practices in Tampa, Florida, Edmonds and Everett, Washington, and now Atlanta. He is also a Founding Partner of The Practice Institute, LLC. He has been the Editor of the Independent Practitioner, and author/editor of six books. In 2013 he served as President of APA Division 42 (Psychologists in Independent Practice).
Table of Contents
PrefaceAcknowledgments
Chapter I: Starting Out: Ethics Issues in Beginning a Practice
Becoming Licensed to Practice
Accuracy and Integrity in Completing Licensure Applications
Supervision Prior to Licensure
Choosing a Practice
Practicing in Health Care Settings
Your Ethics and Legal Team
Location and Office Setting
Ethical Challenges
Key Points to Keep in Mind
Practical Recommendations
Pitfalls to Avoid
Relevant Ethics Code Standards
References
Table 1.1 The Supervisee's Checklist
Chapter II: Clinical Practice
Scope of Practice
Clinical Competence and Accepting Referrals
Wait Time and Waiting Lists
Understanding Informed Consent Assent
Exceptions to Confidentiality
Boundaries and Multiple Relationships
Additional Boundary and Multiple Relationship Challenges
Emergencies and Crises
Termination and Abandonment
Ethical Challenges
Key Points to keep in Mind
Practical Recommendations
Pitfalls to Avoid
Relevant Ethics Code Standards
References
Sample Termination Letter
Chapter III: Documentation and Record Keeping
Documentation
How to Document
Financial Records
Use of Technology and Electronic Health Records
Records When More than one Person is Being Treated
Record Keeping, Storage, and Disposal
What Happens When a Client is Deceased
Ethical Challenges
Key Points to Keep in Mind
Practical Recommendations
Pitfalls to Avoid
Relevant Ethics Code Standards
References
Chapter IV: Dealing with Third Parties and Protecting Confidentiality
General Policies
Special Situations
Ethical Challenges
Key Points to Keep in Mind
Practical Recommendations
Pitfalls to Avoid
Relevant Ethics Code Standards
References
Release of Information Checklist
Chapter V: Financial Decisions
Fee Splitting Practices
Setting Fee Scale Arrangements
Increasing Fees
Collections
Collection Actions
When a Client Does Not Want to Use Their Insurance
Medicare
Informing Clients About the Nature and Limitations of Their Insurance
Accurate Billing
Table 5.1 Accounts of Insurance Fraud by Mental Health Practitioners from an Internet Search
Not All Inaccurate Billing is Due to Fraud or Deceit
Information to be Communicated to Managed Care Companies
Denial of Care by an Insurer
Ethical Challenges
Key Points to Keep in Mind
Practical Recommendations
Pitfalls to Avoid
Relevant Ethics Code Standards
References
Chapter VI: Staff Training and Office Policies
General Professionalism
Confidentiality, Confidentiality, Confidentiality
Delegation to Subordinates
Boundaries and Relationships
Security of Records and the Facility
Policies and Procedures: A Safety Net
Ethical Challenges
Key Points to Keep in Mind
Practical Recommendations
Pitfalls to Avoid
Relevant Ethics Code Standards
References
Ethics Quiz for Staff
End of the Business Day Lock-Up Checklist
Chapter VII: Advertising and Marketing
Advertising and Public Statements
Testimonial Endorsements
Uninvited In-Person Solicitations
Marketing Professional Services
Interacting with the Media
Marketing in the Community
Ethical Challenges
Key Points to Keep in Mind
Practical Recommendations
Pitfalls to Avoid
Relevant Ethics Code Standards
References
Chapter VIII: Continuing Professional Development
Readings
Training
Use of Listservs
Peer Consultation Groups
Mentoring
Personal Psychotherapy
The Role of Self-Care, Burnout Prevention, and the Promotion of Wellness
Staying Aware of Local Laws, Regulations, and Changes
Ethical Challenges
Key Points to Keep in Mind
Practical Recommendations
Pitfalls to Avoid
Relevant Ethics Code Standards
References
Chapter IX: Leaving a Practice
Notifying Your Group That You are Leaving the Practice
Telling Clients That You Will No Longer Be Practicing
Assuring for Continuity of Care
Informing Referral Partners
Maintenance of Records
Selling a Practice
Malpractice Insurance into Retirement
The Professional Practice Will
Business Issues
Ethical Challenges
Key Points to Keep in Mind
Practical Recommendations
Pitfalls to Avoid
Relevant Ethics Code Standards
References
Chapter X: Closing Thoughts