{"title":"If I Treat My Staff Well, They Will Take Care of Me and Look Out for My Best Interests","authors":"J. E. Barnett, J. Zimmerman","doi":"10.1093/MED-PSYCH/9780190900762.003.0015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/MED-PSYCH/9780190900762.003.0015","url":null,"abstract":"It may be easy to believe that if one treats one’s employees well, the employees will look out for the practice owner’s best interests. After all, they each should have the success of the practice as their primary motivation for decisions made and actions taken. Yet, as this chapter illustrates, this frequently is not the case. Employees, while often responding more favorably to positive employment practices, nevertheless may not share the practice owner’s interests. Each mental health practitioner who hires employees and staff members should create policies and procedures relevant to the effective running of the practice and then provide sufficient oversight to ensure that all employees follow them. This chapter emphasizes how the business owner is responsible for the success of the business. Specific strategies and steps to take to help ensure the effective running of one’s practice are provided. Common staff challenges are highlighted and specific recommendations for addressing them are provided.","PeriodicalId":218045,"journal":{"name":"If You Build It They Will Come","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124426452","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Private Practice Is a Solitary Pursuit","authors":"J. E. Barnett, J. Zimmerman","doi":"10.1093/MED-PSYCH/9780190900762.003.0025","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/MED-PSYCH/9780190900762.003.0025","url":null,"abstract":"Private practice in mental health care is a rather solitary pursuit. Although mental health private practice may be a greatly rewarding experience, it brings with it a number of challenges that must be addressed to ensure clinical competence and effectiveness. This chapter addresses how consultation and collaboration with colleagues can be of benefit from a business perspective, from a clinical standpoint, and for the clinician’s own well-being. Numerous examples are provided to illustrate the potential risks associated with professional isolation and the many likely benefits associated with active and appropriate consultation with colleagues. The use of colleagues for office sharing to reduce expenses, for clinical consultation to provide better client care, and for emotional support are explained. The risk of developing burnout as a private mental health practitioner is explained and how the use of colleagues can help prevent it is illustrated.","PeriodicalId":218045,"journal":{"name":"If You Build It They Will Come","volume":"47 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"132938082","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Documentation and Record Keeping Are Burdens to Be Completed as Quickly as Possible","authors":"J. E. Barnett, J. Zimmerman","doi":"10.1093/MED-PSYCH/9780190900762.003.0021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/MED-PSYCH/9780190900762.003.0021","url":null,"abstract":"Documentation and record keeping are not known as the most enjoyable aspects of being a mental health clinician. Yet, as this chapter explains, they play a vital and important role in meeting one’s ethical and legal obligations. Further, it is explained how timely, thorough, effective documentation can help mental health practitioners to fulfill their obligation to provide the highest possible quality of care. Information is also provided on how clinical records may be needed in the future, and the risks associated with minimal or absent documentation. The role of documentation as a risk management strategy, to meet legal requirements, and to assist in providing high-quality care are each addressed. Specific guidance is provided on the needed components of effective documentation.","PeriodicalId":218045,"journal":{"name":"If You Build It They Will Come","volume":"66 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116612672","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Fee-for-Service Practice Cannot Survive","authors":"J. E. Barnett, J. Zimmerman","doi":"10.1093/med-psych/9780190900762.003.0009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/med-psych/9780190900762.003.0009","url":null,"abstract":"During fiscally challenging times and given the prevalence of managed care, it is easy to think that a fee-for-service private mental health practice is no longer possible. This chapter clearly demonstrates how wrong this myth is. Many individuals use their disposable income to purchase goods and services that are of value to them. How to develop and maintain a financially successful fee-for-service private practice is explained. Specific strategies are provided to determine community needs, to develop clinical skills that meet these needs, and to demonstrate the value of these services to prospective clients. Recommendations are made for structuring one’s practice so that clients will be more likely to pay for needed services out-of-pocket and for developing a successful fee-for-service private mental health practice.","PeriodicalId":218045,"journal":{"name":"If You Build It They Will Come","volume":"73 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"123167276","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Client Records Should Be Destroyed Once the Client Leaves Treatment or Dies","authors":"J. E. Barnett, J. Zimmerman","doi":"10.1093/MED-PSYCH/9780190900762.003.0024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/MED-PSYCH/9780190900762.003.0024","url":null,"abstract":"Knowing what to do with client records can be a challenge for mental health practitioners. Those in private practice will need to make these decisions themselves given that they cannot rely on a records office or some other entity found in many agencies and hospitals. This chapter addresses each mental health practitioner’s ethical, legal, and clinical obligations with regard to assessment and treatment records when the professional relationship ends. How to store records, when and how to destroy them, confidentiality requirements, and legal obligations are each addressed. Further, the role of treatment records beyond one’s work with clients is explained to assist clinicians in best meeting former clients’ ongoing mental health treatment needs. The importance of maintaining treatment records as a risk management strategy should complaints be received at a later date is explained.","PeriodicalId":218045,"journal":{"name":"If You Build It They Will Come","volume":"3 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"117315283","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"It Is Best to Provide Minimal Information When a Referral Source Requests Information About a Client","authors":"J. E. Barnett, J. Zimmerman","doi":"10.1093/MED-PSYCH/9780190900762.003.0022","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/MED-PSYCH/9780190900762.003.0022","url":null,"abstract":"It is a common occurrence for mental health practitioners to receive requests for information about clients from their referral sources. Concerns about safeguarding each client’s confidentiality may result in a misunderstanding about how to respond to these requests. This chapter addresses mental health professionals’ ethical, legal, and clinical obligations to both their clients and referral sources. How to address these obligations so that clients’ best interests are served is explained. This includes discussing the role of the informed consent process with clients, educating referral sources on confidentiality obligations, and explaining how to work collaboratively with other treatment providers, so that client treatment is coordinated. Client expectations, diversity issues, striking a balance between competing needs, and applying a thoughtful decision-making process to determine which information to share and how to best share it are all addressed.","PeriodicalId":218045,"journal":{"name":"If You Build It They Will Come","volume":"63 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"115506452","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"At This Stage of My Career Paying for Supervision or Consultation Is Just Ridiculous","authors":"J. E. Barnett, J. Zimmerman","doi":"10.1093/MED-PSYCH/9780190900762.003.0013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/MED-PSYCH/9780190900762.003.0013","url":null,"abstract":"It is easy to assume that being licensed to practice a mental health profession independently renders one competent to manage effectively every clinical challenge that comes one’s way. Whether novice or experienced senior clinician, all mental health practitioners face clinically challenging situations, ethical dilemmas, and legally perplexing situations in the course of assessing and treating clients. This chapter explains the role of expert consultants in these situations and how they may save one significant money, time, and stress in the long run. Further, this chapter highlights the types of situations during which consultation and supervision may be especially helpful. Guidance is provided on how to know when this type of support and assistance is needed or may be beneficial, both to the client and to the mental health clinician, and how best to utilize it.","PeriodicalId":218045,"journal":{"name":"If You Build It They Will Come","volume":"25 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124103307","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"As a Professional, I Don’t Need to Worry About Self-Care","authors":"J. E. Barnett, J. Zimmerman","doi":"10.1093/MED-PSYCH/9780190900762.003.0026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/MED-PSYCH/9780190900762.003.0026","url":null,"abstract":"All mental health professionals are at risk for developing symptoms of burnout and other stress-related difficulties over time. The practice of mental health can be very challenging and demanding. Mental health clinicians bring with them their own histories of emotional vulnerabilities, and they experience challenges and difficulties in their personal lives. These factors can combine to place mental health clinicians at risk for experiencing problems with professional competence and judgment. This chapter explains these challenges and risks as well as the role ongoing self-care can play to prevent these difficulties. Self-care is explained, and examples are provided to illustrate the range of actions one may take to maintain ongoing wellness and competence. Risk factors and blind spots are highlighted, potential pitfalls to avoid are reviewed, and recommendations for addressing these proactively are provided.","PeriodicalId":218045,"journal":{"name":"If You Build It They Will Come","volume":"2 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125646441","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"In Graduate School, I Learned What I Need to Know About Running a Successful Practice","authors":"J. E. Barnett, J. Zimmerman","doi":"10.1093/MED-PSYCH/9780190900762.003.0001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/MED-PSYCH/9780190900762.003.0001","url":null,"abstract":"Although most mental health professionals receive excellent education and training that helps them to become competent and highly effective clinicians, graduate school tends not to provide training in the business side of practice that is needed for success in private practice. Many trainees and early-career clinicians may think they learned in graduate school all they need to know to be successful in the business of practice. Unfortunately, this is generally not true and many of those who enter private practice are poorly prepared for planning, establishing, and running a successful private practice. This chapter addresses the key issues every mental health clinician should know about when contemplating opening a private practice. Business and financial issues are addressed, including developing a business plan and utilizing various consultants. This chapter addresses the myth that excellent clinical skills are sufficient for success in the business of private mental health practice.","PeriodicalId":218045,"journal":{"name":"If You Build It They Will Come","volume":"56 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"115093220","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}