Professional Boundaries Course

[Bartie Spalitto]

Thistraining was developed by NYS Justice Center for People with Special Needs to support the use of professional boundaries in the provision of care at provider agencies. At the Justice Center, we recognize that professional boundaries play a key role in preventing abuse and neglect and providing good quality of care.

This training will define professional boundaries and discuss a concept called zone of helpfulness. This information should be used to consider case scenarios covering three types of boundaries: physical, interpersonal, and psychological. This training will culminate with a discussion of self-awareness and self-help and finish by looking at tools and resources available from the Justice Center.

We recommend that this recorded training be used as part of a facilitated training that will allow staff the opportunity to ask questions, discuss agency policies and procedures, and talk thru the scenarios. Facilitator and participant guides are provided using the links below. Chose the guide that is most appropriate for the services your agency offers.

You may pay by check or credit card. Upon submission of registration, you will be redirected to the payment page for credit card payment. If paying by check, check should be made payable to VUMC and mailed to: 2525 West End Ave, Suite 9200, Nashville, TN 37203-1775

Differentiate among several types of professional boundary problems. Identify motives/causes for current or potential boundary problems. Confront personal and systemic barriers that influence relational binds. Produce a plan for improving professional boundaries in his/her practice of medicine.

Physicians and other health care professionals referred to the course by State Medical Boards and Physicians Health Programs for boundary violations and those interested in increasing knowledge regarding State and Federal regulations regarding appropriate professional boundaries.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center designates this live activity for a maximum of 24.00 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Course registration must be cancelled at least 30 days prior to the first day of the course to receive a refund. No refunds will be given if cancellation is received less than 30 days prior to the course. You may transfer to another course date. In the event VUMC must cancel or reschedule this CME activity due to unforeseen circumstances, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) will refund the registration fee in full. Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) is not responsible for non-transferable, non-refundable airline tickets or hotel accommodations purchased in connection with attendance at this CME activity. Failure to appear for the event will result in forfeiture of the entire course fee.

A licensed psychologist, social worker or mental health practitioner required to complete continuing education must complete 3 hours of acceptable course work in appropriate professional boundaries, in each 3-year registration period starting April 1, 2023.

The Board of Regents approved regulations on October 4, 2022 that requires psychologists, social workers and mental health practitioners licensed and registered under Articles 153, 154 or 163 of the Education Law, to complete 3 hours of acceptable continuing education on issues related to maintaining appropriate professional boundaries between licensees and patients. The course work must be taken from a provider approved by the Department and counts toward the 36 hours of continuing education required in each 36-month registration period.

The regulations apply to each psychologist, licensed master social worker, licensed clinical social worker, mental health counselor, marriage and family therapist, creative arts therapist and psychoanalyst licensed and registered for registration periods starting on or after April 1, 2023. Licensees with a registration period commencing prior to April 1, 2023 do not have to complete coursework in appropriate boundaries until their next registration period. A licensee does not need to submit continuing education certificates to the State Board, unless audited by the Board or applying for a delayed registration.

Education Law 7607(2) requires each psychologist to complete 36 hours of acceptable learning activities, a minimum of three hours of which shall be in course work in the area of professional ethics, including the laws, rules and regulations for practice in New York. Coursework on appropriate boundaries that references New York laws, rules and regulations related to unprofessional conduct may be counted toward the ethics requirement in statute. Conversely, coursework in ethics that address appropriate boundaries would meet that provision.

The Georgia Composite Medical Board now requires physicians and other allied health professionals licensed by the board to complete two hours of professional boundaries and sexual misconduct training before their next licensure cycle. This course will close this gap in knowledge and will increase awareness of appropriate boundaries and the communication skills needed to provide patient-centered care.

The Georgia Composite Medical Board has added a new question to the physician license renewal application asking if the licensee has completed education and training in professional boundaries and physician sexual misconduct.

O.C.G.A. 43-34-11(a)(6) requires all physicians "to receive one-time education and training, for a minimum of two hours, regarding professional boundaries and physician sexual misconduct," and the CME "shall include subject matter relating to how to proceed with basic as well as sensitive or intimate examinations and the communication with patients that is required as a component of such examinations."

"The Board takes physician sexual misconduct issues very seriously," said GCMB Chairman Matthew Norman, MD. "With physicians now required to complete this education and training, they will be better equipped to recognize and prevent potential boundary violations, ultimately leading to a safer environment for patients seeking medical care."

Renewal applicants who answer "no" will have the license placed on hold and it will not renew until Board staff removes the hold. Staff will remove the hold upon the licensee submitting documentation of successful completion of the education. The new renewal application will begin for physician license renewals with an expiration of Feb. 28, 2023.

This two-hour education and training only needs to be completed once during a physician's career and may count toward the required 40 hours of continuing education per licensure cycle, if meeting other CME guidelines.

The education options linked below are provided as a courtesy for physicians who are curious about what CME meets the requirements mentioned above. This list is not exhaustive; education and training meeting these requirements may include but are not limited to:

If you're part of a larger team and need multiple licences, contact us as we offer a discount on 10+ courses. Check out this link to see what else we can do for larger organisations, you won't be disappointed!

Whether you work with colleagues, customers or the general public, without clear boundaries lines can become blurred. When this happens, we are at risk of upsetting, offending or hurting the people that we engage with. Professional boundaries define effective and appropriate interactions between professionals. These boundaries exist to protect both the professional, customers an colleagues.

It is crucial that you understand the nature and limits of your roles and are able to recognise the 'grey areas' where you are at risk of crossing professional boundaries. The skills learnt will enable you to implement good practice and manage boundary issues effectively.

Module 3 - Grey areas within professional boundaries - In this module you will look at harassment, inappropriate behaviour, professionalism, practical boundaries, communication, warning signs, managing boundary issues, contact outside of work, and other colleagues.

Once you click on the link to set your password the link will expire. There is a second link in your welcome email for all future logins. Once you're logged in you can start your course. If you don't complete it all on your first login the course will move into the In progress tab. You've now got 12 months access.

In 2021, the Georgia General Assembly passed House Bill 458, and Gov. Brian Kemp signed it into law. One of the provisions in the new law required the Board to "develop and identify educational resources and materials for physicians, board members, and board staff to support greater understanding of sexual misconduct, sexual boundaries, and impacts of trauma and implicit bias."

The following is a sample list of resources available to support greater understanding of sexual misconduct, professional boundaries, the impacts of trauma, and implicit bias. Inclusion herein does not indicate, nor is it to be interpreted as, an endorsement or guarantee of quality. Further, while some resources listed below are available free of charge, others may only be accessible through purchase.

Another provision in House Bill 458 stipulates that "all physicians shall be required to receive one-time education and training, for a minimum of two hours, regarding professional boundaries and physician sexual misconduct." The education options linked below are provided as a courtesy for physicians who are curious about what CME meets the requirements mentioned above. While some resources listed below are available free of charge, others may only be accessible through purchase. This list below is not exhaustive; education and training meeting these requirements may include but are not limited to:

For people from any profession facing significant issues or concerns about any aspect of professional boundaries, including where there is a complaint or investigation. A thorough grounding in the principles of professional boundaries, the fundamental theoretical basis and a deep exploration of the key elements.

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