NEED HELP ASAP!!!!!---LAW ISSUE!

[toekneetries]

But I do have more questions about keeping record of customers. How do you keep record? Give them a form to fill out during first visit, like visiting a doctor? It is normal to ask them for personal information, such as name, home address & phone number? I didn't keep customers' record because I think getting a massage is like getting a nail service. I don't think most nail salon keep customer info? I am not sure about this, if I am wrong, please correct me.

OK. From this point forward, I'm going to respond as if WBHCC is a legitimate massage therapist. I looked up those initials on the internet and found this listing in the new jersey on-line yellow pages:
Link removed at request ~ Masthera
Since this center offers chiropractic services as well as massage, I'm surprised it isn't standard practice for all clients to fill out New Client/Health History forms upon arrival. However, maybe this is a cooperative, where independent therapists share space and offer their services together as a "Health Care Center".

Like Leener, I'm starting to think WBHCC speaks English as a second language. That would make recordkeeping difficult, and I can see why someone would avoid it. However, if you're providing therapeutic massage and advertising yourself as healthcare, you might want to start keeping records. The request from the lawyer is a good "wake up call."

Here are some places to start learning the basics of recordkeeping for massage therapy:
http://www.sohnen-moe.com/forms.php

WBHCC, are we right about the language barrier? Do your clients often speak English as a second language as well, and therefore have trouble filling out paperwork? If you speak the same language as your clients, you could have them fill out the paperwok in that language, instead of English. For most of us, recordkeeping is a way to ask the necessary questions that lead to the most appropriate treatment for our clients. It's also a way to keep notes on what techniques worked, what didn't, what progress is being made, and any special considerations for each client. I don't think there's any rule that says these forms need to be in English.

 

[My Answers Suck]

"if it doesn't make sense it's because it's not true".

Or, if it doesn't make sense it's because sometimes communication is just difficult.

 

[SLA]

True.

However, it does sound from the reading of the poster's posts, English may not be their first language, so I would have to ask if the poster learned massage in another country?

And name removed per request ~ Masthera Care Center happens to be located in the same town the friend I mentioned lives in. He told me he went to apply for a town licensed and that is what the terms for massage work is.

 

[babydoll]

I just have to jump in here and say, Holy-Jumping-To-Conclusions Batman!:shock:

I understand that the words "parlor" and "massuse" tend to send up red flags to those of us in the field, but let's be honest they are still very much in use in the lay-population. I am constantly having to offer gentle reminders to friends and clients that the word "massuse" is outdated, has less than desirable conotations, and that we generally prefer to be percieved as professionals and thus refer to as "therapist," "practitioner," etc.

Further, it is not unusual for MTs in states that don't require client record keeping to not keep records. I practice in CA where massage isn't regulated and many folks choose not to keep records based on personal preferences. I personally prefer to keep detailed records on my clients and their treatments both for my protection and reference. However, I admit that I may sometimes slack off on regular clients that I've seen for years.

My point is, I feel that some posters jumped to conclusions about WBHCC based on their own issues with terminology and constructs under which they work in ther home state. The result was not only unproductive for WBHCC, but may very well have left him/her feeling pretty alienated. As a community of like professionals I would hope that we could give each other the benefit of the doubt and respectfully not jump to conclusions or accusations.

Having said that, to answer your question WBHCC, if a lawyer contacts you on the behalf of ther client they are probably just trying to get proof that you provided a service for that person. Most likely they are trying to win reimbursement for that service. I agree with the poster above who said that you shouldn't feel that you are "in trouble." My advice would be to contact the attorney and explain that your state does not require record keeping and ask if you can just send a recipt for service.

 

[Aunty Joyce]

Perhaps there are some of us who don't meet the standards of tact and politeness and have jumped to conclusions, however, these are understandable conclusions. I'm not saying they are necessarily right, and perhaps it might have been a better idea to be a little more tactful. My apologies.

The poster has not returned to answer where she was educated and why she has no idea how to fill out basic information forms. Is there anyone else here who never learned that in school? Apparently, I have a lot to learn about what other stuff is out there, as it was a surprise to me that there would be so much walk in business for a new massage therapy place, but apparently, there are several others who have had quick success with that and I guess location, location, location is so very important for something like that. I don't know...maybe there are schools out there that are not teaching about intake forms. I live, work and was educated in NJ and I do not know of any here who are not teaching this basic stuff.

The poster has also not returned to answer why she chose to lie about the answer she gave to the attorney. There was clearly no reason to lie, as NJ law does not mandate that you be certified. If you are not certified, you are not mandated to keep records. And, why would a diligent business owner not know what their responsibility is?

I wonder why clients would not want records kept?

The original post he/she made was the very first post. They never came her to ask good business advice about opening up a massage business and did anyone have any advice about what they needed to do or not do. Perhaps she didn't find the board until she was in potential legal trouble.

I thank all of those of you who opened my mind to the many possibilities of what the case may be here. I still consider it, however, there is too much that doesn't make sense to me.

I am still curious to know the answers. I don't know, if I have given people the wrong impression of me, I always like to explain as much as I can, so they understand my position and if I were the original poster, I would have indicated that I was from another country, state, etc. or that there's a language problem (although English might not be the primary language, there certainly seemed to be enough understanding to work out forms!).

If they are running some other type of business, that is fine. I just would prefer they not disguise it as massage and that the not come here to find out how to do things legitimately. I would hope that the other professionals here agree, including the original poster if they are also a legitimate professional in this industry.