Dealing with Inappropriate Patients

published 1 YEAR AGO | 3 MINS READ

How do you handle patients that are being inappropriate in the treatment room?

Unfortunately, this is something that many of us will have to deal with.

Well, last week our friend Mark Brinson wrote a great post on Facebook about having a written Model of Intervention, and I thought it would be worth sharing with you.

Dealing with Inappropriate Patients

Honestly, I don't know how common these situations are, but it's definitely something I've had to deal with...

Patients trying to touch my thigh during massage...

Coming into a treatment room and having someone's bare butt sticking out...

(Or there was this one woman who kept insisting that if her husband were to die a sudden and mysterious death, then we should totally get married.)

So how do you deal with inappropriate patients?

Well Mark Brinson had a great post on this topic (he's the guy who makes Evil Bone Water and we had him on the podcast), and I thought it would be useful to share:

A Model of Intervention

Your office needs to have a written Model of Intervention that everyone knows by heart.

Basically, it outlines exactly what you will do if something happens with a patient -- whether it's something innocent or something that deserves a 911 call.

Do each step until it diffuses or clarifies the situation. YOU are in a psychological position of power (doctor standing up versus creepy patient lying down).

Here's mine... yours may vary:

  1. "Stop. What are you doing?"
  2. State clearly what they are doing. (e.g. "You are touching my leg.")
  3. Ask them what they are doing in a matter-of-fact way. ("Why is your butt exposed?")
  4. Tell them to stop. ("Stop that. It is inappropriate.")
  5. If you are comfortable, continue the session. Or:
  6. Leave the room. No words, no discussion, no bargaining (this is what certain creepers really get off on).
  7. Go to a safe spot like the front desk and get the phone in hand.
  8. When they figure out how bad it was and that you're not coming back, they will come up front. Tell them to please leave. Do not talk about it. Do not try and get payment (cheap loss). Leave now.
  9. Call 911 if appropriate. These steps are sequential, but you can always skip straight to 6 or 8.

This should be rare. If it happens more often (even if you are sexy AF), that means there is something wrong -- the facility, decor, location, advertising, front desk screening, or paperwork.

If they can't give you a detailed address, phone, age, occupation, etc. that means they are either lazy or shady.

Don't take chances. Be safe.

And please don't work late at night alone.