Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). 5What to do when an inebriated client walks into your session room: Decline to work on the client. Again, consistency is key. The more you take your livelihood seriously, the more you will be respected by your colleagues. Still have questions? Remember, professional organizations, including associations, state massage therapy boards, the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork and various other entities, have codes of ethics and standards of practice that do not waiver. These codes and standards have been put in place to provide a framework that protects us as professionals and ensures the safety of our clients. This framework is our reference point when it comes to any session-related situation we may be unsure of. — Nichole L. Kucharek, P.A., L.M.T., B.C.T.M.B. How to Respond to 5 Potential Spa Challenges 28 | MASSAGE Magazine | September 2015 | www.massagemag.com | by management to give bodywork to clients who were clearly inebriated, more than once. Looking back, what I should have done was say no and be consistent every time I was put in that situation. When I was a new massage therapist, I was afraid I would lose my job if I disagreed with the manager, who had no education in massage. As I’ve become a more seasoned massage therapist, I have learned that the threat of losing a job for practicing within my code of ethics and scope and standards of practice can be an eye-opening experience for both management and coworkers. Solutions Consistency in all departments of the spa is crucial. Spas should have their own ethical guidelines, and spa management should have to adhere to those guidelines and be held accountable. Clear codes of conduct, policies and protocol manuals should be established and available. Training in services should be based on a protocol so that all services embody a uniform process. Management should have a clear policy of financial agreements and employee status. Management must also be clear about who takes the cut with discounts, specials or coupons. Management also needs to ensure that all support staff are knowledgeable in treatments offered. Further, it is necessary for management to be able to understand the ethical principles behind scopeof-practice considerations and be aware of absolute contraindications of modalities. Ideally, spas should invest in continuing education for massage therapists, and also encourage in-person ethics training. Working in a spa can be ethically challenging. To protect your professional reputation, make sure to be educated in all aspects of your code of ethics and scope and standards of practice. Stick to these principles and be consistent in the way you handle challenging situations; keep track of them and write them down if you need to. Encourage coworkers to come up with protocols for handling common problems. If we, as professional massage therapists, do not demand respect from coworkers and managing entities when it comes to adhering to the codes of our profession, the obstacles to acceptance by the public and medical professionals will remain. Nichole L. Kucharek, P.A., L.M.T., B.C.T.M.B., is a National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodyworkapproved continuing education provider through Sage Continuing Education (sagecontinuinged.com). She travels to bring her classes to you. She offers a workshop, Understanding Massage Ethics and Integrity, for spa support staff and managers. She also practices massage therapy at Elements to Wellness in Reading, Pennsylvania. M Ideally, spas should invest in continuing education for massage therapists, and also encourage in-person ethics training. M| Expert Advice | www.massagemag.com | September 2015 | MASSAGE Magazine | 29 30 | MASSAGE Magazine | September 2015 | www.massagemag.com | Clients come to massage therapists seeking benefits that may range from a general sense of relaxation to relief from acute or chronic pain. If the skills and knowledge of the massage therapist are considered the driving force behind such benefits, then one might think of the massage table or chair as the foundation of the service. After all, without proper equipment, even the most talented practitioner can be challenged to provide the best possible massage. When it comes time to purchase a massage table or chair for your practice, it will help to remember the importance of a solid foundation. When you invest in a high-quality massage table or chair, you are paying for that solid foundation and the benefits it can bring. These benefits are the return on your investment, and that return can be significant—more satisfied clients, increased income, greater energy, reduced injury risk, elevated professional status and more. Here, experts including the manufacturers of massage tables and chairs weigh in on what sets high-quality equipment apart, and the difference a top-notch table or chair can make for your clients, your body and your practice as a whole. Defining quality Before you pay a higher price for what is presented as a higher-quality piece of equipment, you will want to know what may set this particular table or chair apart to merit the greater investment. According to Hagan Craft Suber, vice president of Comfort Craft, it all begins with the materials used by the