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Self-Study

The Nuts and Bolts of Legal & Ethical Practice


Credit Available - See CEs/Contact Hours tab below.

Average Rating:
   0
Categories:
Boundaries & Ethics
Trainer:
Edward Zuckerman, Ph.D.
Duration:
6 Hours 13 Minutes
Format:
Audio and Video
Original Recording Date:
Jan 18, 2013

  • Program no longer active
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Description

  • A record retention plan that meets your needs and the laws’
  • Address the actual risks of practice—not just the best known
  • Turn mandated paperwork from burden into clinically valuable tools
  • Use the ‘risk management’ formula to shape better choices

Dr. Ed Zuckerman’s life changed after he ignored a simple clinical rule, and he spent five years dealing with the consequences. Since then, Ed has trained professionals across the country and written best-selling books designed to help other mental health clinicians.

At the heart of this practical one-day seminar are the following principles:

  • Understanding the concept of boundaries, crossings and violations, allows you to safely handle multiple relationships and avoid risky confusions.
  • By fully appreciating the role of the Standards of Care you can work more comfortably in treacherous or disastrous circumstances.
  • Become alert to harms that can grow from small errors in decision making by using the Slippery Slope model.
  • Do quality work: Take a thorough history, make all the diagnoses and get old records.

Many think the greatest risks to their practice are malpractice suits, suicidal clients and custody evaluations. In fact, licensing board complaints, broken confidentiality and fee collection efforts are much more dangerous.

OUTLINE

What are the Risks? Real vs. Hype

  • The BAD news about licensing board complaints and malpractice suits
  • Time for a reality check
  • There actually is GOOD news!
  • Who complains and when?
  • Triggers for complaints and suits

What Does Malpractice Mean for Me?

  • The elements of malpractice
  • Comparison of licensing board complaints and malpractice suits
  • Summary of the good news

Handling Problems

  • Avoiding the Slippery Slopes to disaster
  • How the complaint process works
  • What to do when you receive notice of a complaint against you
  • Develop your emergency plan

Self-Protection

  • Theme 1: Build the legal and ethical into your paperwork and procedures
  • What to record and what not to record
  • How not to modify your records
  • Complexities of record retention
  • Consider using HIPAA-protected Psychotherapy Notes
  • Consult—The rule is ‘never worry alone’
  • Malpractice (professional liability) insurance

Keep Up With the Standards of Practice

  • Current ethical models and legal expectations
  • Understanding how the Standards protect us
  • Understanding your role as fiduciary

Make Your Paper “Work” Clinically

  • Use the HIPAA-required ICD-9 diagnoses
  • Make your brochure for clients the core document of your practice
  • Use more specific client education handouts for risky situations
  • Tighten up your procedures and paperwork for enhanced protection

Questions & Advice/Consultation

OBJECTIVES

  • State the four required elements (“The Four Ds”) for a successful malpractice claim.
  • Identify which HIPAA-required elements to include in your Authorization to Release/Request records.
  • Develop a format for a routine progress note you can live with and which meets the HIPAA requirements for release to managed care organizations.
  • Estimate your own risk of a licensing board complaint and of a malpractice suit.
  • Design an emergency plan for responding to a licensing board complaint.
  • List the three requirements that make a consent valid.
  • Describe the value of using a detailed client education handout about your practice’s rules and expectations.

ADA Needs

We would be happy to accommodate your ADA needs; please call our Customer Service Department for more information at 1-800-844-8260.

 

Satisfaction Guarantee

Your satisfaction is our goal and our guarantee. Concerns should be addressed to: PO Box 1000, Eau Claire, WI 54702-1000 or call 1-800-844-8260.

CEs/Contact Hours


**

NOTE: Tuition includes one free CE Certificate (participant will be able to print the certificate of completion after completing the on-line post-test (80% passing score) and completing the evaluation). 

Continuing Education Information:  Listed below are the continuing education credit(s) currently available for this non-interactive self-study package. Please note, your state licensing board dictates whether self-study is an acceptable form of continuing education. Please refer to your state rules and regulations. If your profession is not listed, please contact your licensing board to determine your continuing education requirements and check for reciprocal approval. For other credit inquiries not specified below, please contact cepesi@pesi.com or 800-844-8260 before the event.

Materials that are included in this course may include interventions and modalities that are beyond the authorized practice of your profession.  As a licensed professional, you are responsible for reviewing the scope of practice, including activities that are defined in law as beyond the boundaries of practice in accordance with and in compliance with your profession's standards.  

All members of the PESI, Inc. planning committee have provided disclosures of financial relationships with ineligible organizations and any relevant non-financial relationships prior to planning content for this activity. None of the committee members had relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies or other potentially biasing relationships to disclose to learners.  For speaker disclosures, please see the faculty biography.


Ethics

This self-study activity includes 6.0 hours of  ethics instruction. Not all boards allow ethics credit for self-study products. If ethics is not specified within your licensing board’s approval statement below, please contact your board to determine the applicability and amount of ethics allowed.


Addiction Counselors - NAADAC (SAS/NTA AP 1/2) (Self-Study)

NAADAC

This self-study course has been approved by PESI, Inc., as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for 6.0 CE in the Legal, Ethical and Professional Development skill group. NAADAC Provider #77553. PESI, Inc. is responsible for all aspects of their programming. Full attendance is required; no partial credit will be awarded for partial attendance.


California Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Counselors (CCAPP-EI)

PESI, Inc. is an approved provider by the CCAPP-EI, Provider #: OS-03-036-1021. This activity meets the qualifications for 6.0 CEH's (continuing education hours).


Connecticut Addiction Counselors

Provider #120924. This course has been approved as a CCB approved training and has been awarded 6.25 hours by the Connecticut Certification Board.


Counselors

This intermediate self-study activity consists of 6.25 clock hours of continuing education instruction. Credit requirements and approvals vary per state board regulations. Please save the course outline, the certificate of completion you receive from the activity and contact your state board or organization to determine specific filing requirements.


Marriage & Family Therapists

This self-study activity consists of 6.25 clock hours of continuing education instruction. Credit requirements and approvals vary per state board regulations. Please save this course outline, the certificate of completion you receive from this self-study activity and contact your state board or organization to determine specific filing requirements. 


Texas Marriage & Family Therapists

PESI, Inc. has been approved as a continuing education sponsor through the Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists. Provider # 503. This self-study package qualifies for 6.0 continuing education credits.


Illinois Marriage & Family Therapists

PESI, Inc. has been approved as a provider of continuing education by the State of Illinois, Department of Professional Regulation. Provider #:168-000156. Full attendance at this self-study activity qualifies for 6.0 credits.


Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, and Clinical Nurse Specialists

This intermediate activity is approved for 6.25 clock hours of continuing education instruction. Credit requirements and approvals vary per state board regulations. Please contact your licensing board to determine if they accept programs or providers approved by other national or state licensing boards. A certificate of attendance will be awarded at the end of the program to participants who are in full attendance and who complete the program evaluation.


California Nurses

PESI, Inc. is a provider approved by the California Board of  Registered Nursing, Provider #: 17118 for 6.0 self-study contact hours. 

** You will need to provide your license number to PESI. PESI must have this number on file in order for your hours to be valid.


Florida Nurses

PESI, Inc. is an approved provider by the Florida Board of  Nursing. Provider #: FBN2858. These materials qualify for 6.0 self-study contact hours.

CE Broker


Iowa Nurses

PESI, Inc. is an approved provider by the Iowa Board of Nursing. Provider #: 346. Nurses successfully completing these self-study materials will earn 7.6 self-study contact hours. Please email cepesi@pesi.com with your license number, include the title, speaker name and date. PESI must have this number on file in order for your hours to be valid.


Canadian Psychologists

PESI, Inc. is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. PESI, Inc. maintains responsibility for the program. This program is approved for 6.0 self-study continuing education hours. Full credit statement at: www.pesi.com/cpa-statement


Florida Psychologists

PESI, Inc., is an approved provider with the Florida Board of Psychology.Provider Number #50-399.This product qualifies for 6.3 self-study continuing education credits.


Social Workers

PESI, Inc., #1062, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. PESI, Inc. maintains responsibility for the course. ACE provider approval period: January 27, 2017 - January 27, 2020. Social Workers completing this course receive 6.25 (Clinical) continuing education credits for completing this intermediate level course. A certificate of attendance will be awarded at the end of the program to social workers who complete the program evaluation. Full attendance is required. No partial credit will be offered for partial attendance. 


Canadian Social Workers

PESI, Inc., #1062, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. PESI, Inc. maintains responsibility for the course. ACE provider approval period: January 27, 2017 - January 27, 2020. Social Workers completing this course receive 6.25 (Clinical) continuing education credits for completing this intermediate level self-study course. A certificate of attendance will be awarded at the end of the program to social workers who complete the program evaluation. Full attendance is required. No partial credit will be offered for partial attendance. Canadian provinces may accept activities approved by the ASWB for ongoing professional development.


Florida Social Workers, Marriage & Family Therapists, and Mental Health Counselors

CE Broker

PESI, Inc. is an approved provider with the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling. Provider Number #50-399. This self-study course qualifies for 6.25 continuing education credits.


Illinois Social Workers

PESI, Inc. is an approved provider with the State of Illinois, Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Division of Professional Regulation. License #: 159-000154. Successful completion of this self-study activity qualifies for 6.0 contact hours.


Minnesota Social Workers

PESI, Inc. is an approved provider with the State of Minnesota, Board of Social Work. Provider #: CEP-140. This self-study package has been approved for 6.0 continuing education hours. This certificate has been issued upon successful completion of a post-test.


New York Social Workers

PESI, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department's (NYSED) State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0008. This self-study activity will qualify for 7.5 contact hours. Full attendance is required; no partial credits will be offered for partial attendance. 


Ohio Social Workers, Counselors, and Marriage & Family Therapists

PESI, Inc. is an approved provider with the State of Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage & Family Therapist Board. Provider approval #: RCST071001. Successful completion of this self-study course meets the qualifications for 6.25 clock hours of continuing education credit.


Pennsylvania Social Workers, Counselors, and Marriage & Family Therapists

This intermediate activity is approved for 6.0 clock hours of continuing education instruction. Credit requirements and approvals vary per state board regulations. Please contact your licensing board to determine if they accept programs or providers approved by other national or state licensing boards. A certificate of attendance will be awarded at the end of the program to participants who are in full attendance and who complete the program evaluation.


California Social Workers, Counselors, Marriage & Family Therapists, and Licensed Educational Psychologists

The State of California, Board of Behavioral Sciences will recognize and accept continuing education programs that are sponsored by providers approved by the APA and the ASWB. Full participation in this self-study course will qualify for 6.0 hours of continuing education credit.


Other Professions

This self-study activity qualifies for 6.25 continuing education clock hours as required by many national, state and local licensing boards and professional organizations. Save your activity advertisement and certificate of completion, and contact your own board or organization for specific requirements.



Handouts

Trainer

Edward Zuckerman, Ph.D.'s Profile

Edward Zuckerman, Ph.D. Related Seminars and Products

Owner

The Clinician's Toolbox


Edward Zuckerman, Ph.D., has created the most comprehensive and practical set of practice tools for clinicians of all experience levels. His books include The Paper Office: Forms, Guidelines and Resources to Make Your Practice Work Ethically, Legally, and Profitably (4th Ed. for 2008), The Clinician's Thesaurus: The Guide to Conducting Interviews and Writing Psychological Reports (7th ed.), and he co-authored Rewarding Specialties for Mental Health Clinicians: Developing Your Practice Niche, and The Authoritative Guide to Self Help Resources in Mental Health. All of these are published by Guilford Press. He has also written and published HIPAA Help: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability: A Compliance Manual for Psychotherapists.

Dr. Zuckerman earned his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. He has more than 30 years of clinical experience working in community mental health, with developmentally disabled adults, as a program evaluator, in full-time private practice and as a claims reviewer for Social Security Disability. He taught psychology courses at the University of Pittsburgh and at Carnegie Mellon for 15 years.

His writing demonstrates an understanding of clinicians' work environments and needs based on his extensive experience. In his writing and workshops, Dr. Zuckerman provides invaluable consultation, practical information and usable forms and tool for the support functions of clinical practice.


Target Audience

Counselors, Social Workers, Psychologists, Case Managers, Addiction Counselors, Therapists, Marriage & Family Therapists, Nurses, Other Mental Health Professionals