Shelly Hemmings from Hamilton Fraser has kindly shared with us what you need to know about running your aesthetic business and staying safe, keep reading to find out her great advice that covers everything you need to know.
What is medical malpractice insurance?
A Medical malpractice policy is designed to protect YOU, the aesthetic practitioner and your clinic against allegations of malpractice and negligence whilst performing in your practice.
Why is insurance important to your business?
Without adequate insurance cover, you will be left to defend any allegations personally, which could incur significant legal costs – and these costs should not be underestimated – not to mention the risks to patients should something go seriously wrong.
What could go wrong?
- Misdiagnosis
- Failure to diagnose
- Treatment errors
- Aftercare errors
- Dissatisfaction
How to Get Started as an Aesthetic Practitioner
- Keep your registration with the relevant industry body
- Research your market
- Attend recognised aesthetic training courses
- Develop a detailed aesthetic business plan
- Market yourself as an aesthetic practitioner
- Take out medical malpractice insurance
- Begin practicing in aesthetic medicine
- Grow your aesthetic business
Consenting and Consultations
A patient has three years and four months to make a formal claim against you. This can be in the form of a solicitor’s letter or as a direct request for compensation.
It may be that you have only seen the patient once and do not receive a claim until three years later and it will be then when you will need to rely on you documentation to remind yourself of the patient and of their treatment journey.
The Importance of Documenting Patient Selection
- Understand and manage the patient’s expectations
- Check your patient’s medical history
- Educate the patient about the treatment
- Manage aftercare effectively
- Don’t be afraid to say no
- Document everything
To make this easier, we recommend going paperless. Software you could use are apps such as Pabau and Aesthetic Nurse Software.
6 C’s – Key Takeaways
- Communication
- Consultation
- Claims
- Consent
- Consistency
- Cover
Don’t let this scare you, just make sure you do your paperwork and take clear before and after photos! As you can see, it is important you are aware of these points so you can ensure you cover your back in the unlikely case a patient is unhappy.
For more expert advice from Shelly Hemmings, and others from Hamilton Fraser, check out their content hub here: https://www.hamiltonfraser.co.uk/content-hub
If you would like any more advice on running your aesthetic business don’t hesitate to get in touch! You can call us on 0141 638 4098 or email us caroly@inspiredcosmetictraining.com
We are currently offering “Business Boot Camp” where you can book an hour with us, free of charge, to have a chat about where you are in your aesthetics journey, and what could be next!!
