In this article published at Massage Magazine, CE Institute LLC Instructors Selena Belisle and Wendy Langen help others understand what a medical error is with some real-life examples of massage industry errors:
CE INSTITUTE LLC BLOG
Posts in the Business category
A Brief 101 About Clients Suffering with Alcoholism or Drug Use for Massage Therapists & Bodyworkers
Every client must be able to provide informed consent for each service they request or receive. Informed consent includes telling the client of any possible consequences for the service, including known risks and benefits. The client can only provide consent for the service once this information is understood/shared.
A person who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs is not of legal capacity to provide informed consent, therefore their service would be contraindicated and inappropriate to provide. This person may exhibit slurred speech, could be off-balance or is unable to make sense of their surroundings, etc. They are not of “sound mind” to provide consent.
As bodyworkers, we are not able to make medical diagnoses. Unfortunately, a person exhibiting imbalance, slurred speech, etc., may be having an acute medical episode that requires immediate medical attention. Regardless of the situation of why a client might exhibit unsteadiness, service can only be provided when an individual can provide informed consent and is competent enough to provide it.
Bodywork, massage, etc. should not be provided to an individual who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs that reduces the client’s capability to provide informed consent. Not obtaining informed consent for a service appointment for any reason would be considered unethical in most to all cases.
To learn more, please register for training at https://ceinstitute.com/
#massage #massagetherapy #massageprecautions #massagecontraindications
A Few Quick Tips in How to Provide Professional Casino Chair Massage
Corporate chair and onsite massage has moved to new types of offices, including poker tables for poker professionals and other gaming amateurs and experts in a casino. Enter massage.
Spending long hours at a casino table or slot machine can be "bad for the back". Luckily, massage therapists can now work in many casinos, and provide massage therapy services to casino patrons and staff.
In this chair massage training video, licensed massage therapist Kelley Stead of Winning Hands will share the basics of casino chair massage is offered in professional setting:
To learn more, please attend and complete CE Institute LLC's regular chair massage training at: https://ceinstitute.com/collections/chair-massage-event-work
#casinomasasge #casino #pokermassage #chairmassage #onsitemassage #corporatemassage #painrelief #backmassage #massagetherapy #lmt #mt #massage #massagetherapist
Tips on How to Select a Hot Stone Massage Heater or Hot Stone Bath Unit
A massage stone heater is also known as a stone bath unit. Hot stone massage therapists are known to use turkey roasters, crock pots, kitchen griddles, hot towel cabins, kettles, heating pads and other types of heating devices, in addition to professional stone massage bath units, to heat their stones. For best practices during hot stone massage, all stones must be fully immersed in water within a heating unit prior to use. This is known as the "bath". Most stone bath units that have a built-in temperature gauge within a hot stone bath operating range are preferred.
Heating sources such as a hot towel cabi or kitchen griddle that do not include a total water immersion can create uneven stone surface temperatures. Unevenly heated stones are not reliable or safe to use, especially when working near maximum operating temperatures for hot stone massage.
Stone bath units must also have an adjustable temperature control. Practitioners must continually adjust the bath temperature as needed, especially if cooler stones are returned to the bath, to maintain a proper operating temperature.
For complete hot stone massage training, please register for class at: https://ceinstitute.com/collections/hot-stone
In this short instructional video, we'll explain what should be used for heating massage stones, and more importantly, what should not be used:
#hotstone #hotstonemassage #bodywork #massage #massagetherapist #lmt #massagetherapy #stonemassage #bodywork #bodyworker #thermaltherapy #thermotherapy #thermotherapies #HEAT #MASSAGEtherapy #MASSAGEtherapists #SKINcare #BURNS #scalds #PATIENT-centeredcare #PATIENTsafety #hotstonebath #stoneheater #stonemassgeheater #hotstoneheater #health
The Challenges of Providing Affordable Education
CE Institute LLC has always believed in providing quality affordable education. Unfortunately, there is a tremendous problem in providing discounted prices, which is that some students think that because they are paying less, they will receive less education.
.
Because of this, we've seen a small number of students show up late for class, then not fully participate in the training and then complain about their experience when they have made little effort to learn. This is discouraging for us as instructors who work to provide affordable quality training experiences. Some students want a skill without making an effort to achieve it, so they register for the cheapest training possible and their outcome is their own self-made deficiency, but they're also the first to point fingers to make their failure everyone else's problem.
.
We believe quality affordable education should be available for all, and we're not going to raise our prices so that some students can feel better and more interested in a costly investment. Sometimes, there is something that is just really good - and that's what we plan to continue to offer with our quality affordable CE education.
.
Please do not register with us if you're only trying to obtain a certificate without making much of an effort to learn the work. We will not be able to continue to offer quality affordable education for students who are registering with negative purposes and consequences, because we do not want to be part of your failure. No one does.
.
We want to thank our 98% - 99% of students who have enjoyed the value of our quality affordable education which we work very hard to provide. We hope that you will continue to take advantage of the very best we have to offer, because we are only interested in teaching to students who want to do their very best.
.
#BeBest #DoBetter #Quality #Professionalism #1 #Ethics
.
.
.
Addressing E-Commerce and Website Fraud for the Massage Therapy and Spa Industries
by Selena Belisle, Founder/Instructor, CE Institute LLC
Massage therapy and spa business primarily operates with in-person transactions, where you are face to face with the customer who pays you. But, sometimes an individual or "representative" pays for a service prior to the appointment with a card in-hand. Unfortunately, in an extremely small majority of times, these massage therapy payments may be illegitimate. The person has paid with a credit card number that is not there own, and will eventually be challenged and lost when its determined that someone's credit card was illegally used.
The largest scam massage therapists usually face is when someone contacts you stating they want to send a large group of people, or clients for regular appointments for large sums of income. The discussion will then turn to the person requesting your bank information, or asking you to make a payment to a driver or another individual to secure the work. These are the types of financial scams that massage therapists and spa practitioners primarily face within our industry. In our experience, we have never seen this type of "opportunity" turn into a legitimate massage therapy work experince.
The e-commerce website company Shopify, has provided new and up-to-date information about e-commerce fraud, including statistics, types of fraud and some identifying factors. While much of what Shopify has written and distributed (below) mostly relates to products and not services, it is great information that may help you avoid some of the the fraudulent trillion dollar business tactics. The following information is direct from Shopify, and edited in some places to show massage and spa industry issues:
In 2021 alone, approximately $20 billion in ecommerce losses were reported in the US due to online payment fraud. North American merchants have seen a 68% increase in fraud attempts throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
What is e-commerce fraud?
Ecommerce fraud happens when scammers intercept transactions happening on your online store. Also known as payment fraud, it’s a criminal act in which scammers hijack transactions and steal money from either the customer, the merchant, or both.
With global ecommerce sales tipped to reach $5.55 trillion in 2022, there’s plenty of opportunity for scammers to hijack customer data and commit fraud. Let’s take a look at the seven types of ecommerce fraud you’re likely contending with an online store:
Friendly fraud (does happen in the massage industry)
Friendly fraud happens when a customer pays for your massage service, and later files a chargeback with their bank. Shoppers illegitimately claim their they didn't receive the service or some other illegitimate execuse such as they canceled the appointment shortly after placing it. A complaint to their bank prompts an investigation, causing 2.9% of enterprise brands’ ecommerce orders to result in a chargeback.
Card testing fraud (also happens in the massage industry)
Card testing is a tactic fraudsters use to determine whether a stolen credit card works. Scammers often make a small, low-value purchase so the fraudulent transaction goes under the radar of the card holder. Once the card is verified to still work, they go on to make more expensive purchases using the stolen card.
Card testing is the second most popular type of ecommerce fraud for all merchants. Not only is it frustrating for customers, but should most of your online payments be blocked due to card testing fraud, your business will be subject to extra fees and disputes.
Refund abuse (not typical in the massage industry)
Refund abuse is a type of ecommerce fraud where customers return broken, damaged, or stolen items to a retailer in exchange for a refund.
While many merchants have strict return policies that determine what qualifies for a refund, it’s still a costly problem. The National Retail Federation found that retailers lose $5.90 for every $100 in returned merchandise due to this type of fraud. It’s the type of online fraud that saw the biggest increase, with merchants reporting a 60% uplift in refund abuse last year.
Online payment fraud (does happen in the massage industry)
Online payment fraud happens when scammers steal another person’s payment details and use them to make purchases. I was working in a spa where some young customers walked-in for several hundred dollars of massage and spa services, and then used a credit card that did not belong to them to pay for the services. We received a charge-back.
Because the customers' spa services exceed $500, we asked for identification with the credit card and the person holding the card stated he did not have his license on him. His friend who also received a massage appointment offered his identification so we accepted that, and provided this with the chargeback to the police. The police did nothing about it other than take a report and tell us other merchants in the area were subjected to the same fraud with the same group of customers. We were never paid.
Credit card fraud can also result when scammers create duplicate versions of your website and encourage customers to unknowingly purchase items through a fake website. Hijackers recoup their cash and store their credit card number for future scams.
Retailers worldwide suffer from online payment fraud, though it’s most prevalent in Mexico, where merchants saw a 77% increase in online payment fraud last year.
Account takeover fraud
Account takeover is a type of fraud that happens when scammers break into a your online account or website to use stored credit card numbers to make fraudulent purchases else where.
Some 23% of brands experienced account takeover fraud last year, with scammers accessing customer accounts that use weak passwords, phishing emails, or malicious software on the device used to purchase.
Promo, affiliate, or loyalty abuse
Ecommerce brands use promotion, affiliate, and loyalty programs to attract new customers and engage existing ones. But their popularity means promotions attract scammers who rinse your business of cash through fraud using tactics like:
- Affiliate fraud. Affiliate marketing gives customers who refer friends a percentage commission on their order. However, some affiliates bend the rules. They send spam traffic to the website or use stolen credit cards to get paid out—even though the customers they’ve referred aren't legitimate.
- Loyalty fraud. Research suggests that $1 billion in rewards value is lost every year to fraud. It happens when customers join your loyalty program, earn points through stolen credit cards, and resell them for a percentage of their value on the dark web.
- Promotion fraud.Almost half of ecommerce businesses have experienced a rise in promo abuse since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. It happens when scammers find loopholes in a retailer’s promotions to claim products for free.
Triangulation fraud
Ecommerce businesses that sell through various sales channels often fall victim to triangulation fraud. It happens when:
Triangulation fraud is a serious problem for both ecommerce merchants and customers. Marketplace shoppers unknowingly have their credit card details stolen. Retailers also process fraudulent orders without recognizing the invisible middleman using stolen cards and netting the difference between the marketplace price and actual product price.
- Fraudsters list your products for sale on marketplace such as eBay or Amazon
- Customers purchase the lower-than-RRP item from the scammer using their legitimate credit card
- The scammer uses a separate fraudulent credit card to buy the real product from your store using the customers’ shipping address
- The customer receives their order but their credit card information is compromised
Triangulation fraud is a serious problem for both ecommerce merchants and customers. Marketplace shoppers unknowingly have their credit card details stolen. Retailers also process fraudulent orders without recognizing the invisible middleman using stolen cards and netting the difference between the marketplace price and actual product price.
How to Identify Possible Fraud on Your Website:
Ecommerce fraud is an expensive problem, both in terms of lost revenue from intercepted online orders and customer loyalty. Shoppers are unlikely to return to your website if they were a victim of fraud the last time they purchased through it.
Here are some red flags to spot possible fraudulent activities on your own website:
- Higher order volumes. Scammers using stolen credit cards often purchase high-ticket items since the cash they’re spending isn’t their own.
- Low value orders. “Be on the lookout for low value transactions, especially if they’re only around $1,” says Ben Hyman, CEO and co-founder of rug brand Revival. “Fraudsters will purchase low value products to see if their stolen card works.”
- Different credit cards. It’s a warning sign when one customer makes several purchases, each using a different credit card. Scammers often do this to test whether stolen credit card details work.
- Repeated declined transactions. Fraudsters might not have the information they need to make purchases from a stolen card. If a payment declines repeatedly due to security code errors, for example, it’s unlikely to be an honest mistake from a genuine customer.
- Unusual IP locations. Look out for several orders from the same IP address, or suspicious orders from an IP address in a location that isn’t familiar. If most customers are in the US, for example, an attempted high-value order from an IP address in Indonesia is a warning sign of ecommerce fraud.
- Different billing and shipping addresses. This is especially common with triangulation fraud, where fraudsters use stolen card details to ship items to legitimate customers.
- PO box shipping addresses. While this type of shipping location is popular with businesses, PO boxes allow scammers to ship online orders to an anonymous location. Be wary of shipping too many orders to a single PO address.
Here are some fraud prevention strategies to minimize the likelihood of fraud happening through your website.
1. Manually Review Risky Orders
Ecommerce software exists to flag risky orders. Manually review orders that raise a red flag, reaching out to the customer for further information if you’re unsure whether it’s legitimate.
If you’ve received a low-value order from an unusual IP location, conduct a manual review and reach out to the customer for further verification. Failing to hear back means there’s a strong chance that the order was made using a stolen credit card.
Similarly, consult a customer’s purchase history to determine whether a risky transaction is ecommerce fraud. It’s likely not a cause for concern if a shopper who usually makes orders from the US makes one purchase from an IP address in Spain. But there’s a strong chance their account has been compromised if they’re making orders bigger than usual, using a different credit card, from a different location.
Be vigilant when it comes to new customers. Take a closer look at orders from new customers, and be prepared to cancel or refund them if something looks suspicious.
2. Collect Proof of Delivery
Have your massage and spa clients fill out an intake form prior to the start of service, and detail notes collected about their appointment on the form. This will help show that the service was indeed provided after the fact. While you cannot show actual medical details to others because this would violate HIPAA, having the intake form in the office will help.
You can also provide surveys for your services after the treatment, and ask clients to fill these out to not only improve your practice, but to also show additional proof of receipt of services. Ask a client to mark the form n/a with their initials if they do not want to fill out the form after the fact - it may be hard for the client to say no to such a basic request after such a personal service.
3. Be PCI Compliant
All ecommerce businesses need to meet Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards if they’re processing online payments safely. These PCI compliance standards include:
- Changing the default password for software and systems
- Encrypting cardholder data across open, public networks
- Using antivirus software to prevent malware attacks
- Restricting which employees can access cardholder data
- Regularly testing online security systems
“Having a firewall between your internet access and any system that stores credit card details is one way to ensure PCI compliance,” says Sina Will, co-founder of Foxbackdrop. “Therefore you must verify that you are adhering to the appropriate PCI requirements to avoid sanctions or penalties.”
4. Post Clear Policies on Your Massage or Spa Website
Post policies on your business website that explain how your business works. Aside from blanket terms and conditions, showcase clear policies on your website to crack down on ecommerce fraud. That includes:
- Strong password policy. It’s easier for scammers to commit account takeover fraud if a customer’s login details are easy to crack. Alongside two-factor authentication, Stephen Light of mattress brand Nolah recommends a password policy because, “While some customers find password requirements tedious, it makes it much harder for any fraudsters to hack into our customers’ accounts if their passwords are complex.”
- Return policy. Build your case against customers requesting chargebacks or refunds with a solid return policy. Explain what qualifies for a return, the documentation needed, and how it’ll be processed (such as a cash refund, exchange, or store credit).
- Promotions and rewards policies. From limited order quantities to prohibiting the sale of reward points, this type of policy backs up any ecommerce fraud that goes against the terms and conditions of your promotion.
5. Make Sure You Are Collecting ALL Credit Card Details to Verify Legimate Transactions
A telltale sign of ecommerce fraud is when a customer’s billing, shipping, or card details don’t line up correctly. Automatically identify orders that raise this red flag using verification software, such as:
- Card verification number (CVN). Scammers only need to see the front of a credit card to make fraudulent online purchases. Add the three or four digit PIN (CVN) as a required field on your ecommerce checkout as an added layer of security. It’s the most popular fraud detection feature used by more than half of merchants.
- Address verification system (AVS). This verifies a customer’s billing address against the card they’re using. As Stephen Light, CEO and co-owner of Nolah says, “Many fraudsters will use multiple cards to make purchases to a single address, so an ASV can catch them out.”
6. Use IP Fraud Scoring Tools for Greater Protection
One person can commit several types of fraud using the same computer. Detect those serial fraudsters with IP scoring tools such as SEON or Scamalytics. Each detects an IP address that’s been linked to fraud in the past, using signals like:
- Their location (and whether it matches the country the card is registered in)
- Whether they’re using a VPN to disguise their true location
- The type of internet service provider, such as a residential or public connection
Orders placed from an IP with a high fraud score are highlighted, ready to manually review risky orders or automatically block them.
In summary, these are only a few methods that could help avoid fraudulent transactions. Learning about them is a great start to be able to identify and address them when they happen to hopefully prevent an fraudulent incident. Unfortunately, blocking 100% of fraudulent transactions is likely not possible. And while this is not a total exhaustive list of possible fraudulent exercises, it does provide many different examples where a practitioner could fall as a victim.
Fraud exists because it can be used in new and unthinkable situations so it would be extremely difficult to protect yourself from all fraud. However, some fraud exists because it has been successfully applied in the past, such as asking a trustring massage therapist to share their bank account information for payment, or pay a driver in advance to drop off spa customers, etc.
We hope this information helps enlighten spa and massage industry staff to help avoid fraudulent transactions. Learning more about fraud is one way to help prevent it.
To learn more, please register for quality, affordable, professional training at: https://ceinstitute.com/
#fraud #preventfraud #spa #spabusiness #massagebusiness #massagepayment #payments #website #healthcare #healthcarepractices #lmt #massage #massagetherapist #massagetherapyethics #bodywork #bodyworker #massagetherapy
A Website with FREE Resources Aims to Eliminate Solicitation in the Massage Industry
There is a website promoting free resources for massage therapists to share to help prevent illicit client solicitations within the industry. The following information is available at there website which you can view by clicking: https://respectmassage.com/
The website states and we concur: It would be weird to hang a sign on the front door of your practice saying, “We don’t give happy endings here.” Let Respect Massage do the talking for you. Allow our logo downloads and videos to open up a conversation with the public and your clients about the intentions of your practice.
They also encourage massage therapists to download and post their logo from their website with the following statement.
Massage therapists that are members of Respect Massage hold themselves to the highest standards of an ethical, boundary-driven practice. Respect Massage members have a zero-tolerance policy for solicitations of any kind. Jokes, innuendo, and inappropriate requests are taken seriously and will result in the swift termination of the session.
Respect Massage and the ABMP are third party agencies. Neither are affiliated with CE INSTITUTE LLC. However, we always attempt to share valuable insights and information whenever possible, and this promotion may help save others from uncomfortable if not illegal business situations with unwanted solicitations.
The massage industry has been an unfortunate, vulnerable place for unwanted solicitations. Such practices often create an unsafe space for legitimate massage therapists to operate and work. It is past time to lend a voice and put a stop to unethical and illegal practices, so we hope all will spread this message!
If you are a victim of sexual assault, which in our opinion, includes unwanted solicitation of sexual acts, you can chat anonymously with a support specialist by visiting: https://hotline.rainn.org/online
Please also call 911 if you ever find yourself in danger or feel threatened in any way or by anyone. Safety is paramount for every individual, especially for those who unwillingly find themselves in dangerous or illegal situations. What's most important is to establish your safety first and foremost, and above all else.
To learn more, please register for quality, affordable, professional training at: https://ceinstitute.com/
#respect #respectmassage #ethics #healthcare #healthcarepractices #lmt #massage #massagetherapist #massagetherapyethics #bodywork #bodyworker #massagetherapy #massageethics
Benefit From Practicing Common Opening and Closing Massage Rituals
by Selena Belisle, Founder/Instructor, CE Institute LLC
Instilling trust amongst clients is paramount to providing a superior service. So how do you instill that trust with a new client who has another favorite therapist?
Establishing client confidence can regularly be achieved by applying commonly practiced opening rituals. Spending 60 seconds or more with something that feels familiar at the start of any session could deliver an incalculable benefit. Routine opening practices can help old clients quickly reconnect, and some might instantaneously relax when they recognize what they are receiving.
Similar opening rituals could also prove beneficial when couples book the same appointment in the same room. It could prove laborious for a partner to feel that they received lesser or greater treatment when at least some of their service was the same.
Unfortunately, a massage recipient could also attempt to invalidate a therapist’s work because it was not recognizable and did not match their previous treatments. New massage clients may additionally be confused when their session does not match what their friends or family have told them. Starting or finishing a treatment in a similar manner to what is commonly practiced could help avoid these adverse feelings.
There are many advantages to using familiar rituals beyond what we have published. And while it is perfectly acceptable to provide something different, there are a few commonalities that can be shared.
To learn more, please register for quality, affordable, professional training at: https://ceinstitute.com/
In this article published by Massage Magazine, we examine common opening rituals plus a few closing practices in massage therapy and bodywork services. To view the article on Massage Magazine's website, please click HERE.
#massagepractices #healthcare #healthcarepractices #lmt #massage #massagetherapist #bodywork #bodyworker #massagetherapy #openingrituals #rituals #openings #closings #closingpractices #openingmassage #closingmassage
Tips to Create a Professional Massage Therapy Image and Environment
by Selena Belisle, Founder/Instructor, CE Institute LLC
To maintain a professional and desirable massage therapy work environment, make sure your workspace is:
- Free of clutter
- Temperature controlled (to the client’s comfort)
- Installed with appropriate or adjustable lighting
- Dark enough for the client to relax with at least 40 watts of light during bodywork
- Light enough so the client can safely navigate in and out of the room, as well as dress, undress, find their personal belongings, etc.
- Properly installed with smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, proper exit signs, fire extinguishers and any other safety equipment as needed and/or required by law
- Stocked with appropriate cleaning supplies and disinfectants
- Operating with an efficient scheduling process with proficient ability to process client cancellations, changes and payments
- Operating with appropriate security to keep client records and appointments confidential
- Installed with stable flooring, including any rugs secured to the floors and no uneven surfaces where clients could trip
- Easily accessible for the client. Ensure table height is appropriate so client can safely mount and dismount the table
- Provide a stepstool if the table is too high and nonadjustable
The massage therapy reception and work space should be equipped with appropriate chairs for sitting, waiting or changing, especially when serving a frail clientele. With geriatric or orthopedic leg post-op clients consider:
- Low setting couches may be trendy and sleek but would be difficult for a client to sit or rise
- Chairs without arms may pose the same problem
- Provide chairs and seating arrangements that create easy accessibility, especially for a client that may be in pain
Ensure the bathroom is clean and has:
- Toilet paper
- Hot & Cold Running Water
- Soap or Hand Cleanser
- Ability for client to dry their hand
- Paper towel
- Washable linens (to be used one time then laundered
- Air dryer
Always Perform Proper Hand Hygiene:
- Before eating
- Before and after having direct contact with a client (whether it be a massage, manicure, facial, haircut, waxing appt., etc.)
- After contact with blood, body fluids or excretions, mucous membranes, non-intact skin or any questionable exposure
- After contact with a sharp object that could have cut skin
- If hands could be moving from a contaminated-body site area to a clean-body site during client contact
- After glove removal
- After using a restroom
- Use additional care as needed
High Standards of Personal Hygiene and Professional Service Considerations Include:
Clean uncontaminated clothing. Refrain from wearing clothes that have come in contact with a client – these should be changed to prevent “cross contamination” from client to client.
Use hand towels to separate the client’s body from bodyworker clothing. If the bodyworker lays a prone ankle over their shoulder, then a hand towel should be placed over the bodyworker’s shoulder to prevent contact between the client’s naked ankle and the bodyworker’s clothing.
Refrain from wearing clothes that are dirty, have body odor, etc.
Keep a “change of clothes” readily accessible so that appointments would not be cancelled due to soiled clothing OR that appointments are not performed with soiled clothing
Refrain from wearing clothing that provides excess nudity, i.e. bodyworker should wear comfortable, conservative clothing with a professional appearance. The bodyworker industry does not want clients to “get the wrong idea” of the nature of therapeutic work because the bodyworker is dressed inappropriately or “suggestive” for the wrong type of service.
Refrain from wearing clothing that has holes, political statements, foul language, considered controversial or anything that could be upsetting to any client or coworker.
Use your best judgement. Bodyworkers regularly earn more than the “average” hourly American wage. Bodyworker’s should take pride in their appearance, and “look the part” of a professional.
Avoid Halitosis (bad breath)
Clients and coworkers do not appreciate foul odors, including bad breath. In fact, a client may avoid communicating with a bodyworker who has bad breath. Avoid eating foods that could cause undesirable odor such as onions, garlic and anything else that may be considered undesirable. Communication is critical to a safe or successful massage therapy session, so consider having the following available to avoid halitosis:
- Breath mints
- Mouth wash
- Oral sprays
- Toothbrush with toothpaste
Hot Towel Massage Therapy & Bodywork Practices
Hot towels are often used in bodywork service but are often improperly prepared. Many times, bodyworkers will prepare hot towels by throwing a few towels in a sink and running hot water over them. Sinks can harbor bacteria and as such – should not be used to prepare hot towels without cleaning the sink first.
Hot towels can also be made with a clean bowl. Simply put towels in a clean bowl and pour hot water over them. Excess water should be “rung” from the wet towels and be placed in a hot towel cabi to maintain heat until the bodyworker is ready to use them.
The inside of a warm most environment can be a bacterial breeding ground, so if a hot towel cabi is used, be sure to routinely clean/sanitize the inside. This includes leaving the inside of the cabi door open when not in use. Anaerobic bacteria (bacteria that cannot live in the presence of oxygen) will not be able to continue to grow in the present of oxygen with the door open.
Finger nails Must be Short and Clean
If the whites of the fingernail beds are showing, then make sure underneath the nail is cleaned prior to working on each client with a nail brush or other appropriate cleaning method
Some bodyworkers can perform bodywork with medium to long fingernails however this is not advised under normal bodywork circumstances. That’s because of multiple factors including:
- Bacteria, virus and other undesirable agents can linger underneath the nail in this hard-to-reach area
- When working on clients with poor circulation, such as a diabetic geriatric client, a small cut to the skin (by a fingernail that’s too long), could create detrimental effects. A client in this medical condition generally has poor wound healing – and if the skin cut becomes infected, it’s possible the client could lose their limb or life with a systemic infection, all from a simple fingernail cut to the skin by a bodyworker.
To learn more about massage therapy practice, please click here to find or register for training: https://ceinstitute.com/
#client #clientrelations #workenvironment #healthcare #healthcarepractices #lmt #massage #massagetherapist #massagetherapyethics #bodywork #bodyworker #massagetherapy #halitosis #hygiene #relax