There is a misconception in healthcare that one provider is all you need.

Gone are the days of a town doctor handling everything from a tooth infection to a combine accident.

The healthcare world is full of specialists and massage therapy is no different.  Gain trust with your clients by staying in your lane.

Massage therapists are unique in our profession in that we must understand a lot of other health conditions I order to do our work; most of these conditions are out of our scope, however.

Additionally, by nature of the practice, we generally see our clients in a vulnerable state which gives us insight another provider may not have.

A client with a mole on their back, for example, may not see that part of their body whereas a massage therapist will likely see it.

A client may also disclose things about their health, and life, that would warrant a different specialist.

When a client presents with something that is out of scope, tell them.  You can say, “this is not my are of expertise, so next time you see your GP, mention it”.

Or more urgently, “I am not an expert, but if it were me, I would consult with a…” or, “this makes me uncomfortable.  I would recommend you to see a…”.

Sometimes the client does not know the professional they need and telling them what you see, and what you would say to the other professional, may make them more likely to seek the recommend provider.

A massage therapist cannot diagnose, but they can alert the client to potential health concerns and urge them to seek care.

You can, further, gain trust with the client by developing a network of referral partners that you can recommend and offer to share your notes with the other provider.

As a reminder, in Arkansas, we are not bound by HIPAA, but it is always good practice to get written consent to share health records.