Dual Practice Standard

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Standard

The physiotherapist clearly identifies instances when they are offering or providing non-physiotherapy services.

Expected outcome

Patients can expect that the physiotherapist will clearly identify instances where the services offered or provided do not constitute physiotherapy.

Performance expectations

The physiotherapist:

  • Does not represent non-physiotherapy services as physiotherapy or use protected titles when providing non-physiotherapy services.
  • If offering non-physiotherapy services, establishes each service as a distinct entity, maintaining:
    • Separate invoices that clearly, transparently, accurately indicate the service provided.
    • Separate patient records (including billing and financial records) for each service, or separate entries in a shared patient record, that clearly identify which professional role/service was provided at each patient visit.
    • Distinct times for providing each service.
  • Provides physiotherapy services if the patient seeks them out, unless doing so would not be in the patient’s best interests, even if the physiotherapist also offers non-physiotherapy services.
  • Clearly communicates with patients and others when the services proposed do not constitute physiotherapy services.
  • Obtains informed consent from patients for non-physiotherapy services by, including but not limited to, advising the patient of the implications of receiving non-physiotherapy services, including potential financial implications.

Definitions

Dual Practice

refers to a physiotherapist offering both physiotherapy and non-physiotherapy services to patients, which may be other regulated activities or non-regulated services.