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Trends In Medical Spas
2004:
Volume 1, Number 2
There is
growing interest in medical spas that include both wellness programs
and medical services. Medical doctors and professional staff in spas
and wellness centers enhance the credibility and image of the
operation. However, having a medical model
in spas increases the risk of liability and medical malpractice.
What Are Medical Spas?
A medical spa is defined as a facility with a medical program
closely supervised by a licensed healthcare professional. Services
integrate traditional medicine, nontraditional medicine, and spa
treatments. Facilities can be classified in one of four categories:
Beauty or Skin
Offers services that include
medically-based consultations and treatments provided by a licensed
healthcare professional or medically-trained aestheticians and
therapists.
Therapeutic
Services include therapeutic
modalities focusing on specific medical issues such as
cardiovascular disease and bariatrics.
Medical Centers or Hospitals
Offer programs that include both
Eastern and Western techniques of evaluation and treatment
integrated with a variety of spa services
Wellness Centers
Encompass many of the same services as
the medical/hospital facilities if they are physician-owned. May
also be owned by medical wellness practitioners or entrepreneurs.
With the proliferation of medical
spas, there are new considerations, liability and safety precautions
for both the business and professional staff. Specific aspects of
medical regulations ranging from OSHA to HIPAA
affect medical spas in ways that have never before concerned owners
and management.
The “Blood-Borne Pathogen Standard”
and other OSHA regulations require control for exposure to blood and
other potentially harmful body fluids. It stipulates that therapists
wear gloves while performing certain treatments. According to OSHA,
medical spas must comply with the “Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act of 1996”as it regulates specific standards. As of
April of 2003 medical spas are required to be in compliance.
To learn more about medical spas, visit the Medical Spa Association. |
