NAMMT

Members Handbook

The National Association of Massage and Manipulative Therapists Handbook is designed to help members and their patients

The National Association of Massage and Manipulative Therapists Handbook is designed to help members and their patients, with a range of information and also pieces that can be applied to practices. It is presented here but it will be available has a hardback copy if requested. Please contact the Secretary.

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INDEX

1          Index

2          Committee Members

3          Members’ Help Lines

4          Training & Insurance

5          Designatory Letters

6          Legal Responsibilities: Confidentiality, Informed consent,

7          Record keeping, and Areas of Qualification.

8         Therapists and the Law.

9          Patient care

10        Continuing Professional Development

11        Constitution & Code of Ethics

12        Business Sense

13        Factors that help you succeed in business

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National Association of Massage & Manipulative Therapists Committee Memebers

                                    Chairman                                Mac Thacker

                                    Secretary                               Alan Inger

                                     Treasurer                              Michael Berry

                                    Disciplinary &Protocol             Derek Turner

                                    Membership                           Joe LLoyd

                                    Research &CPD                       Pauline Stuttard

                                    Lay Member                           Geraldine Alker

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MEMBERS’ HELP LINES

Practitioners often work alone and have little contact with others in the profession and may become isolated. NAMMT is committed to helping members and to be available for guidance and advice.

If you need guidance or advice regarding your patients the first contact should be with your training school. If, for any reason, you cannot find an answer to your problem please contact NAMMT and we will try to help.

Please e-mail with full details either of the following:

                                    eddie@nim.co.uk

                          mac@belperbackpainclinic.co.uk

Or telephone

                                    Eddie Caldwell: 0161 797 1800

                                    Mac Thacker: 01773 822523

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TRAINING AND INSURANCE

NAMMT members have been trained to approved national standards, i.e.

Meeting the requirements of the General Council for Massage Therapies (GCMT) and the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC).

Training will have been at an approved school, e.g.

                        The Northern Institute of Massage

                        The Midland School of Massage & Manipulative Therapies

                        The Northern School of Massage (Londonderry)

                        The Irish Institute of Physical Therapy (Cork)

                        The Society of Sports Therapists

This is not an exclusive list but prospective members must be able to show that their level of training is from a school or college that meets national standards (GCMT and CNHC).

INSURANCE

All members must have current professional insurance. The minimum indemnity for Massage is £3,000000 and for Manipulative Therapy £5,000000. Insurance may be obtained from a number of companies. If you have any problems or would like to take advantage of our block scheme please see other sites on our website or contact the Secretary.

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DESIGNATORY LETTERS

Honorary Member

This level of membership will be awarded at the committee’s discretion to individuals outside the UK or outside the Massage and Manipulative professions for outstanding merit or service.

Post-nominal or designatory letters: NAMMT (Hon)

Full Members

For members with a qualification in Massage Therapy:  NAMMT (MassTh)

For members with a Remedial Massage qualification: NAMMT (RM)

For member with Advanced Remedial Massage qualification: NAMMT (RM Adv.)

For members with a diploma in Manipulative Therapy: NAMMT (ManipTh)

For members with the modular diploma in Sports Massage: NAMMT (Sp.Mass) or Sports Therapy; NAMMT (SpTh)

All memberships must be renewed annually and applications for change of post-nominal letters should be sent to the Membership Secretary.

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LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES

The massage/manipulative practitioner has legal responsibilities to the patients who place themselves in the practitioner’s hands.

If a dispute about treatment and care arises both parties should try and discuss the problem and resolve it amicably. This does not always happen, however, and the patient has recourse to the law and if you receive a letter from the patient’s solicitor you should not reply to it.

You should notify your insurer with your account of what happened and leave it in the hands of the legal expert. You should also contact NAMMT with full details and a copy of the solicitor’s letter.

CONFIDENTIALITY

You must not discuss a patient with any one else. Occasionally, you may receive a request for information about a patient from a solicitor or an insurance company. You must not divulge any information about a patient unless you have signed authority from the patient to release the information.

INFORMED CONSENT

You have a duty to make sure that each patient understands what your examination and treatment procedures entail before you start the procedures. Have a stock of pre-printed consent forms ready for each patient at the time of their first appointment.                                                

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RECORD KEEPING

Accurate, legible patient records must be kept for each patient for a legal minimum of seven years. They are legal documents and may be required as evidence in a court of law.

Patient records stored on a computer are also subject to the law and you should inform the office of the Information Registrar at the Data Protection Agency. You will then be advised about registration and the fee that is payable.

Patient Records should show patient’s contact details, GP’s contact details, patient’s history and account of the presenting condition and any other current problems including possible pregnancy, your examination procedures, consultation and treatment plan, treatments given and fees paid.

Examination and treatment of children must only be undertaken with the consent of and in the presence of the parent(s) or guardian or other responsible adult, e.g. the child’s social worker.

TREAT WITHIN THE SCOPE OF YOUR QUALIFICATIONS

Do not be tempted to treat a patient with a procedure/technique for which you are neither qualified nor insured. NAMMT insists that all members follow this important guideline.

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THE THERAPIST AND THE LAW

It happens (rarely, thank goodness) that a practitioner may find him or herself in the of position being accused of breaking the law. There are several areas of the law that may affect the therapists; some obvious, other not.

CRIMINAL LAW - covers everyone and would include events like common and indecent assault. There are strict interpretations concerning these offences and practitioners should be aware of what may constitute either.

CIVIL LAW - a patient may resort to law if he or she feels that the therapist has been negligent or has failed in his or her duty of care. This may be a failure to conduct a correct examination and then give a treatment that harms the patient or fails to notice a potentially dangerous condition when examining.

THE LAWS OF EVIDENCE- medico legal reports may be required from you as evidence in court. Note the Disclosure of Records (Access to Health Records) Act 1990. It applies to practitioners. The Data Protection Acts (1984 & 1988) and Implementation (2000).

DAMAGES - patients may seek damages in a general recompense for inadequate or harmful treatment or may be more specific and claim special damages for loss of a function or sense.

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PATIENT CARE

Patients should feel that they are made welcome to your practice and questions should be answered professionally and a patient’s possible nervousness recognised and treated sympathetically.

The practitioner should help the patient relax and not rush or push them into accepting a treatment until the examination procedures have taken place. The more relaxed a patient is, the easier the treatment will be for the practitioner.

 A calm presence is re-assuring, especially to patients in pain and portrays a professional manner. Carefully explain your examination routine to the patient. After this has been completed you can make your assessment and then plan with the patient his or her treatment.

Your treatment room should be well decorated, clean, light and airy. Towels (or a robe) should always be available for your patients. Table linen should be clean and fresh at all times.

Try not to have an intrusive overhead light that shines in the patient’s face. If you have music playing in your treatment room make sure that it does not intrude upon your conversation and treatment and check that a Public Performance Licence is required.

A chaperone service for any patient should be available and it is recommended that a waiver be signed by patients who do not wish for such a service.

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CPD

CPD is used to describe the process of systematic maintenance, improvement and broadening of knowledge and skills.

It also involves identifying areas of practice that need updating or extending. It is a necessary component for the successful application of safe, effective practice. It prevents stagnation and loss of contact with our developing profession and encourages practitioners to meet and share.

Continuing Professional Development is a requirement for all members.

There should be a minimum of 20 hours each year. Professional courses at advanced levels, seminars and workshops will constitute the bulk of CPD hours. Other activities include structured reading, DVDs, TV and radio programmes that relate to our therapy, attending meetings, e.g. the AGM, and other related activities. You must record the activity, the time spent and how it was useful to your development as a therapist.

Members should keep their own record of CPD activities and submit a record form each year when renewing membership.

e.g.

The activity: what was it, e.g. Low Back Pain seminar, DVD Massage Revision, a professional journal.

Why did I undertake it and how will it fit in with my professional development as a therapist. What were the outcomes of the activity; what did I learn from it? Did I pass an exam or gain a further qualification?

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CONSTITUTION & CODE OF ETHICS

NAMMT has a constitution to which it adheres and by which it operates. The full constitution is rather long to be included in this handbook. All new members will receive a copy of the constitution on joining NAMMT and you may also refer to the other parts of this web site

As with the constitution, there is insufficient room in this handbook to reprint the code of ethics. A copy will be given to each new member and it is available on the Website and again it is in other pages on this web site 

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BUSINESS SENSE

The finest practitioner must be a good businessperson to survive in practice. The secret is to combine both components in your work.

The position and environment of your clinic or treatment room is vitally important. It must look professional whether it is at home or in another building.

Stairs may be a barrier for some patients; so may double yellow lines outside your clinic for 200 yards in each direction!

An adjustable plinth is easier for both patients and practitioner!

Check fee levels of other practitioners in your area and adjust yours accordingly. There is usually no advantage in trying to under-cut their fees as it often gives mistaken impressions about your quality of service.

Raise your fees periodically and this is best done when you have a full appointment book. You’ll probably lose the odd patient because of the rise but this will be compensated for by all the others AND will still leave room for new patients.

If you require any guidance about this subject contact your training school or the NAMMT help line.

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FACTORS THAT HELP YOU SUCCEED IN BUSINESS

(“The Massage Practitioner: how to be successful in your practice”

Edited by Eddie Caldwell Published by NIM 2009)

PERSONAL PRESENTATION

You are the most important factor in the success or otherwise of your practice. You have to make a good impression upon and establish a rapport with each and every one of your patients. You cannot afford to fail at this first hurdle.

Make sure that you present yourself in a way that will help you rather than hinder your future career. You must dress smartly and neatly. You need to fit into the patient’s preconception of what a therapist should look like.

We suggest that therapists should wear a tunic or a white polo shirt, trousers and shoes. Look like a therapist. Do not present yourself, for example, in a logo emblazoned t-shirt proclaiming “No Fear” or “Super Clarets!”, a pair of old trainers and baggy tracksuit bottoms. This may pass muster down at the local rugby or athletics club but not for the ordinary member of the public seeking massage treatment.

Greet each patient with a smile and a handshake. A warm welcome works wonders, especially with patients who may be apprehensive or in pain. They just hope for a kind, sympathetic person to treat their aches and pains. The lack of a civil greeting or a smile, the practitioner’s perceived diffident manner will have a negative effect on the patient and lessen the chances that your treatment will be a good one for that patient.

Remember this, too, when speaking to patients on the telephone. If this is the first contact between you, an abrupt manner will be off-putting.

HOME VISITS & SAFETY

How safe is a home visit or domiciliary? Do you know the patient? How did they get your contact details? We recommend that you do not visit people you do not know.

For those you do know, find out who else will be in the house. Do you know them?

Will there be a suitable chaperone present? You could always take your own chaperone but think of the extra cost.

How safe will your car and equipment be? Are you insured for such work?

What is access like? Parking facilities? Electric supply for any equipment, e.g. ultrasound?

Always ask your self and the patient, too: why do you want a home visit? If you are not happy with the answer, the solution is simple: do not go!

If you feel ill at ease or become suspicious when in the house, terminate the treatment and go home - get out quickly.

Most practitioners do outside visits from time to time as part of the service they offer to their patients but many new practitioners take on outside visits without due thought for the factors involved. Remember to set realistic fees for your time, travel and expertise.

IN SUMMARY

         Smile and be courteous and friendly with all your patients

       Present a positive, professional image at all times

         Always maintain a neat professional appearance in your clinic

          Develop the ability to listen to patients and hear what they tell     you

         Remember previous conversations with patients

          Thank them for any referrals they send to you

         Keep patients informed about your professional development, new          qualifications, new equipment in the clinic

         Birthday cards and Christmas cards for regular patients