Guest blog post written by Xana Ouellette, a Registered Kinesiologist with a Bachelor of Human Kinetics (Movement Science) from the University of Windsor.
Documentation is yet another topic that is typically not included in undergraduate Kinesiology education, and is a crucial skill for Registered Kinesiologists in almost every practice setting. Since the inception of the College of Kinesiologists of Ontario in 2013 there have been six disciplinary hearings with a seventh scheduled for later in 2022. Three of these hearings were related to paperwork and documentation. Clearly, this is an area where Registered Kinesiologists need to be aware of their legal duties and ethical responsibilities.
Consider the following scenarios of a Registered Kinesiologist in Clinical Practice:
No one comes into work in the morning and says, ‘I’m going to do a bad job today.”
Considering the actions of the Kinesiologist in the scenarios from above - as unlikely as these following outcomes might be, you should always be prepared for the worst.
Of course, in most cases, you’ll be fine. Complaints won’t be made to the College and your client/patient won’t retain a lawyer. But is it worth the risk?
Your practice is only as good as your documentation. Remember, write it down (or type it out) every time. Explain why you did what you did and what you were thinking at the time of the appointment. If you talk to the client/patient later about their care, add notes from the phone call or a copy of the email into the chart.
Protect yourself for a long and great career.
Xana Ouellette is a Registered Kinesiologist with a Bachelor of Human Kinetics (Movement Science) from the University of Windsor. She has worked in outpatient, long-term care, and community settings over her career and is passionate about educating and empowering Kinesiologists across Ontario. Xana can be found at https://www.kincarp.ca/ where she provides CPR/First Aid training as well as gym based Kinesiology services.
Professional link: https://www.kincarp.ca/
Instagram: @kincarp.ca
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