![]() ![]() Patients should be informed and free to request a chaperone for any portion of their exam this request should be honored whenever possible.Urgent care operators and owners should consider including the following points the chaperone policy for their facility: Therefore, it is practically essential in today’s society to have such a policy. Having a chaperone policy in place can help prevent expensive and damaging false allegations against providers and reassure patients that their care will be handled professionally. This is due to the fact that patients and physicians don’t have an established relationship, the care setting is often quick and time-sensitive, and urgent care centers must utilize existing employees (ie, nurses, medical assistants or technicians) for the role. What Should a Chaperone Policy for an Urgent Care Center Include?Īs mentioned, a chaperone policy for an urgent care center looks a bit different than it would for another type of healthcare facility. Chaperones also protect the physician by limiting the chances of a patient initiating inappropriate behavior. In fact, some prosecutors now argue that having a chaperone is the standard of care for intimate exams. Should a patient falsely accuse the physician of something, the chaperone who was present can act as a witness to testify on behalf of the physician. However, a chaperone should be available regardless of gender, as abuse can occur between any two individuals.įor the physician, a chaperone hedges against false claims of abuse or groundless sexual misconduct allegations. Simply having someone else in the room can make them feel better, especially in cases where the physician and patient are different genders or during sensitive exams of the reproductive regions, or times when the patient is undressed. How Does Having a Chaperone Benefit the Patient and the Physician?įor the patient, having a chaperone in the room offers reassurance that they are safe from abuse or sexual misconduct by the physician. And they serve as a witness after the fact should allegations be made by anyone in the room. They can stop something inappropriate from happening in the first place by paying attention to the atmosphere of the exam, or at least stop inappropriate actions before they get out of hand. However, if something inappropriate does occur, initiated by either the physician or the patient, a chaperone should interject. As long as everything about the visit is appropriate, the chaperone shouldn’t have to do anything else. In essence, chaperones are present to observe a physical examination or other “closed door” medical visit. This person could be a front office worker, but preferably is someone with at least some medical training, such as a medical assistant, a nurse technician, or a medical scribe. Generally, a chaperone is already an employee of the healthcare facility, as it is usually not financially realistic to hire a full-time chaperone. They are there to protect both the physician and the patient. He or she observes the exam and ensures that things go according to policy and that nothing inappropriate happens. What Is a Chaperone in the Medical Setting?Īs you might imagine, a chaperone is present in the treatment room with the physician and the patient. However, owners and operators of urgent care centers should carefully consider the case for having a chaperone policy and what should be included in it. Though the idea of a chaperone, due to the nature of the word, may seem archaic or unnecessary, doing so can help protect the facility, its employees, and its patients, all while keeping the practice professional and reliable.įor urgent care centers, this can look a little different due to the episodic nature of treatment and the operational focus on rapid turnaround with high throughput. ![]() In light of the recent explosion of sexual assault and abuse allegations being made across the country, many medical practices have turned to chaperones as a way to mitigate risk. Ayers, MBA, MAcc is Chief Executive Officer of Velocity Urgent Care and is Practice Management Editor for The Journal of Urgent Care Medicine. Urgent message: In today’s world of flying accusations of personal misconduct, having a clearly defined (and followed) chaperone policy helps protect both providers and patients.Īlan A.
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