trustworthness

[Emily B]

I’ve got to find a new MT – the ladies I’ve been seeing are so busy that it’s hard to get into see them, on a short notice… So now I get to go through the whole – are you a pleasant older gentleman, who wants a relaxing, invigorating massage OR are you a pervert who wants something else….

Remember the movie “Babe” – the pig has to learn to herd sheep and get’s a secret phrase – baa ram you – that proves to the sheep that he is trustworthy and has no hidden agenda…

Other than advising the new MT that my regular is busy & being myself, is there a secret phrase or simple way of getting by the – are you a pervert??? thing…

Thanks - g

 

[Matt991]

Let your therapists know you want to continue seeing them, but need to also find a back up therapist that is not so busy on days when you need to be fit in as a short notice client. They may be able to just refer you to someone they know.

Also, ask if you can use them as your reference when contacting any new therapists in your search. If they are comfortable with that, then you can tell your prospective new therapist you have been recieving work from such and such, and provide the phone number in case they have any questions. HIPPA may apply here (I am not sure), so you may need to have your therapists put a signed release (by you) in your chart at their place of business. As I said, I am not sure about that though.

I'd think both of these ideas will work wonders.

 

[Christopher B]

If you are happy with the therapists you have been seeing, why not rebook an appointment with them before you leave their office? That way you would already have an appointment and not have to worry about introducing yourself to a new therapist.

 

[Fail Whale]

I can identify with the original poster. It's very nerve-wracking trying to make an appointment with a new female therapist and have them sizing you up, having their husband/boyfriend/security guard there to greet you, and/or worrying that somehow you might be a perv. Sometimes when I greet a new therapist, or particularily by email when describing myself, I start off by saying "I am an ethical client and understand massage is only therapeutic in nature." I also never say anything about abs or glutes, until they ask me about where I may be having discomfort. I still would never mention abs, just maybe something about digestive issues (which I do have) As a general principle, I think it is better to talk less, because especially over the phone, they may read into something you say which is totally not how you mean it. Also it's good if you schedule in advance and give them a couple dates you are available...so it doens't look like you want a same day appointment or that you are locked into one time period.

 

[Cooter]

I haven't had that problem when exchanging with new female therapists or when I don't have time to do an exchange and just go get one. I know a lot of female's have issues with new male's but I haven't run into that.

 

[ThatBoyThamer]

Interesting... I treat all fairly, so you wouldn't have trouble with me unless you said something that would stick a red flag up in the air during our initial conversation.

As someone has already suggested, definitley book a time as you leave. You know how often you like to go, even if it is a month or longer from now... I am happy to take apoinments long before they are coming. I know if I am busy I will forget to call to make an appointment, and realize when it is too late, and I am in need of my massage.

As for dealing with the phone call... Suggested introduction: "Hello, My name is g425, I have been a client of Jen S. from JS wellness center for the past year and a half. I can't get an appointment with her for 3 weeks, do you have any time available that is sooner, maybe within the next week? Thank you very much for your time."

 

[Victoria<3]

Also, ask if you can use them as your reference when contacting any new therapists in your search. If they are comfortable with that, then you can tell your prospective new therapist you have been recieving work from such and such, and provide the phone number in case they have any questions. HIPPA may apply here (I am not sure), so you may need to have your therapists put a signed release (by you) in your chart at their place of business. As I said, I am not sure about that though.

HIPPA requires that access to client data is "restricted to only those employees who have a need for it to complete their job function." A great resource for HIPPA regualations is http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/AdminSimpRegText.pdf

 

[72 mg]

I think generally most women therapists (I say most not all) have very few issues treating men. For me anyways, the issue comes up when someone calls me Friday afternoon looking for a massage right then and there. Not knowing your schedule in advance can make things complicated when scheduling. However you will be seen as less "pervy" if you book an appointment in advance, and reschedule if you find the original appointment doesn't work (before the cancellation policy of said therapist)

The last minute nature is more of an issue for me than the male issue.

 

[BlooRat]

Also, ask if you can use them as your reference when contacting any new therapists in your search. If they are comfortable with that, then you can tell your prospective new therapist you have been recieving work from such and such, and provide the phone number in case they have any questions. HIPPA may apply here (I am not sure), so you may need to have your therapists put a signed release (by you) in your chart at their place of business. As I said, I am not sure about that though.

HIPPA requires that access to client data is "restricted to only those employees who have a need for it to complete their job function." A great resource for HIPPA regualations is http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/AdminSimpRegText.pdf

Access to client data is restricted, but the last time I went through all of the HIPAA rules and regs (not the administration proceedures you have linked to) in 2004 (which I'll admit is some time ago), you as a patient/client could sign a waiver to have your records released. In signing a waiver like this it gives the person in charge of your records the ability to discuss your case with another individual (the one/ones you have given the disclosure ok for).

In our case if we have a client or patient who needs to have records transferred to or discusse with his/her physician or some other entity they have to sign the Records Release Form.

What I am not sure of is massage practice in each individual state, regarding HIPAA. In Texas we have to jump through a different set of HIPAA hoops than some other states - which is why I mentioned it. HIPAA is all the same, but different massage entities in different states may or may not be required to use the HIPAA laws if I recall correctly.

Hope that clarifies my earlier post.

 

[Pompal 09.]

A client waiver for transfer of information is a requirement. I hope my post did not imply that it is not a requirement. I currently work in a hospital and we are tested every six months on HIPPA (and other things).

In layman terms in our environment (in a Texas Hospital) means that patient personal identifiable information is strictly confidential but can be shared with those that are working to treat the patient (consultation between medical personnel) and billing and payment of treatment. The waiver applies when working with those outside the employment of the hospital ~ such as contracted medical personnel ~ which loosely applies in this case. 

Here is a better HIPPA resource. http://www.hipaadvisory.com/action/compliance/communicating.htm - particularly this comment:

"Strictly-speaking, HIPAA Privacy regulations do not apply to providing treatment (or payment and healthcare operations), but rather to protecting the electronic transmission of PHI, and sound confidentiality practices have been in place for a long time."

 

[Keegan W]

Strictly-speaking, HIPAA Privacy regulations do not apply to providing treatment (or payment and healthcare operations), but rather to protecting the electronic transmission of PHI, and sound confidentiality practices have been in place for a long time."

Electronic transfer is a key phrase here. HIPAA has a lot to do with providers who bill insurance. A client asking one MT, verbally, to provide a verbal reference to another MT, could be completely outside the scope of HIPAA is neither of them bills insurance for the client.

 

[D.P.T]

At the hospital that I work, we do not send client information via email since email is relayed through different servers on the Internet and can be viewed on each - unless it is a SSL.

 

[Pavlovs Dogma]

A good MT who has been in business for a while may be booked up for a while and not be able to take a client on short notice. We all have busy schedules (my husband and I should know, with more-than-full-time school, a long commute, and nearly-full-time-work), but I understand and appreciate quality (whether it's my MT, DC, CPA, hairstylist, whatever) and I will schedule several months out.

We always recommend to our clients that they book in advance, and we tend to take them a little more seriously (in general) than the short-notice person. (Of course, this can always depend on other factors, and there are always exceptions.)

Where there's a will, there's a way

Hugs,
~Jyoti