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Why Medical Risk Assessment Is Critical For Your Practice

Sep 21 2022

Reading Time: 4 Minutes

Author: Patricia Pezzano

Medical spas are popular among beauty and wellness fans. They offer more advanced services like lasers, slimming, and anti-aging treatments. These minor cosmetic procedures attract many people. This makes the hybrid industry very profitable.

But even minor procedures have risks. Without careful planning, they can lead to serious complications.

So, what should you do to protect your business and clients?

As with all medical procedures, safety is key. The best way to ensure safety is with a medical risk assessment.

What is a Medical Risk Assessment?

A medical risk assessment explores potential risks. It also finds ways to reduce and avoid them.

When risks are assessed before any service, your establishment understands what is needed. This includes items, precautions, equipment, and tests for success. Awareness helps prevent infections, accidents, shortages, and bad word of mouth.

A risk assessment keeps patrons happy. It may also be a legal requirement, depending on your location. If something goes wrong, you do not want to violate laws. That could cost you your business and licence.

What Comprises a Medical Risk Assessment?

There are different methods for medical risk assessments. But every assessment should identify minimum safety standards and areas for compliance.

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) provides a risk management template. This template works for most situations. It helps your team identify and minimize risks. But you should modify it to match your business model.

Private organizations also specialize in risk assessments. They can help you manage risks more systematically. Whether you do it yourself or hire a pro, honesty is key. You need to know if your business meets industry standards.

Here is an overview of what happens during a medical risk assessment:

• Identifying events or procedures and associated hazards
• Checking your staff’s qualifications
• Ensuring your insurance coverage is updated
• Reviewing and following local regulations

Identifying Hazards

Make a list of all workplace and procedural hazards. These can be minor, like slippery floors or power outages. They can also be serious, like infestations or medical emergencies.

Identifying hazards is good business practice. According to SGS Canada, good spa practices include testing for microbiological parameters. Microorganisms like Legionella, Pseudomonas, and mould can cause infections. Some infections can be fatal. Also check your facilities, service quality, and operational procedures.

Checking Staff Qualifications

When was the last time your staff trained? Are your physicians qualified for their services? What certifications are needed for certain services?

Unlike regular spas, medical spas offer medical procedures. Only qualified physicians have the training to perform them. These procedures have serious risks. So certain qualifications are required.

Verifying these requirements boosts client confidence. It also helps treatment success rates.

Ensuring Your Insurance Coverage Is Updated

When risks become reality, you need protection. Shield yourself and your business. Ensure your clients, staff, and business are adequately insured.

Review and Abide by Local Regulations

Health and safety regulations vary by location. Make a checklist of local requirements to stay compliant. Watch for updates that affect these regulations. For example, COVID-19 greatly influenced health and safety standards. Some areas now require RT-PCR testing before medical appointments.

How Often Should You Undergo a Medical Risk Assessment?

Ideally, perform assessments at least annually. Also do them when changes occur, like renovations or new equipment. Do them before offering new services. Monitor and evaluate periodically to ensure compliance and find areas for correction.

Sound like a lot of work? It is, but for good reasons.

Understanding the Importance: Real-Life Cases

Consider two women who went to different medical spas. One ended up with second-degree burns. The other lost her life before reaching the clinic.

What happened? The first victim, Terri Bowling, had laser hair removal by a cosmetologist. This was not a certified laser technician. The only doctor at that spa was a dentist, not a licensed physician or dermatologist.

The second victim, Shiri Berg, was scheduled for laser treatment. She was told to apply numbing cream without an exam or supervision. This caused an overdose and her death.

These tragic stories, published by NBC, show the dangers of unsafe medical spas.

The clients endured trauma. The businesses were fined. In one case, a doctor’s licence was suspended. Ethical issues from malpractice weigh more than costs. Many families agree no money can replace a loved one. Especially when the death was avoidable.

Final Thoughts

Medical risk assessment is vital for any practice with minimally invasive cosmetic procedures. No procedure has zero risks. Take extra precaution for your sake and your clients’.

To learn more, visit the CCOHS website or enroll in APT’s Medical Aesthetics Business Course.

If you need your own policy and procedure protocols, purchase our exclusive Aesthetic Policies and Procedures Binders. They can be customized to fit your clinic’s needs.