Part V. Standards of Professional Conduct
18VAC85-150-140. Confidentiality.
A practitioner shall not willfully or negligently breach the confidentiality between a practitioner and a client. A breach of confidentiality that is required or permitted by applicable law or beyond the control of the practitioner shall not be considered negligent or willful.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-2957.16 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 30, Issue 16, eff. May 7, 2014.
18VAC85-150-150. Client records.
A. Practitioners shall comply with the provisions of § 32.1-127.1:03 of the Code of Virginia related to the confidentiality and disclosure of client records.
B. Practitioners shall provide client records to another practitioner or to the client or his personal representative in a timely manner in accordance with provisions of § 32.1-127.1:03 of the Code of Virginia.
C. Practitioners shall properly manage and keep timely, accurate, legible, and complete client records.
D. Practitioners who are employed by a health care institution, educational institution, school system, or other entity in which the individual practitioner does not own or maintain his own records shall maintain client records in accordance with the policies and procedures of the employing entity.
E. Practitioners who are self-employed or employed by an entity in which the individual practitioner owns and is responsible for client records shall:
1. Maintain a client record for a minimum of six years following the last client encounter with the following exceptions:
a. Records of a minor child shall be maintained until the child reaches the age of 18 years or becomes emancipated, with a minimum time for record retention of six years from the last client encounter regardless of the age of the child;
b. Records that have previously been transferred to another practitioner or health care provider or provided to the client or his legally authorized representative; or
c. Records that are required by contractual obligation or federal law may need to be maintained for a longer period of time.
2. Post information or in some manner inform all clients concerning the time frame for record retention and destruction. Client records shall only be destroyed in a manner that protects client confidentiality, such as by incineration or shredding.
3. When closing, selling, or relocating his practice, meet the requirements of § 54.1-2405 of the Code of Virginia for giving notice that copies of records can be sent to any like-regulated provider of the client's choice or provided to the client or legally authorized representative.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-2957.16 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 30, Issue 16, eff. May 7, 2014.
18VAC85-150-160. Practitioner-client communication; termination of relationship.
A. Communication with clients.
1. Except as provided in § 32.1-127.1:03 F of the Code of Virginia, a practitioner shall accurately present information to a client or his legally authorized representative in understandable terms and encourage participation in decisions regarding the client's care.
2. A practitioner shall not deliberately make a false or misleading statement regarding the practitioner's skill or the efficacy or value of a treatment or procedure provided or directed by the practitioner.
3. Before an initial assessment or intervention is performed, informed consent shall be obtained from the client or his legally authorized representative. Practitioners shall inform clients or their legally authorized representative of the risks, benefits, and alternatives of the recommended procedure that a reasonably prudent practitioner would tell a client.
a. Informed consent shall also be obtained if there is a significant change to a therapeutic procedure or intervention performed on a client that is not part of routine, general care and that is more restrictive on the continuum of care.
b. In the instance of a minor or a client who is incapable of making an informed decision on his own behalf or is incapable of communicating such a decision due to a physical or mental disorder, the legally authorized person available to give consent shall be informed and the consent documented.
c. An exception to the requirement for consent prior to performance of a procedure or intervention may be made in an emergency situation when a delay in obtaining consent would likely result in imminent harm to the client.
4. Practitioners shall adhere to requirements of § 32.1-162.18 of the Code of Virginia for obtaining informed consent from clients prior to involving them as subjects in human research with the exception of retrospective chart reviews.
B. Termination of the practitioner-client relationship.
1. The practitioner or the client may terminate the relationship. In either case, the practitioner shall make the client record available, except in situations where denial of access is allowed by law.
2. A practitioner shall not terminate the relationship or make his services unavailable without documented notice to the client that allows for a reasonable time to obtain the services of another practitioner.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-2957.16 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 30, Issue 16, eff. May 7, 2014.
18VAC85-150-170. Practitioner responsibility.
A. A practitioner shall not:
1. Perform procedures or techniques that are outside the scope of his practice or for which he is not trained and individually competent;
2. Knowingly allow a subordinate to jeopardize client safety or provide client care outside of the subordinate's scope of practice or area of responsibility. Practitioners shall delegate client care only to subordinates who are properly trained and supervised;
3. Engage in an egregious pattern of disruptive behavior or interaction in a health care setting that interferes with client care or could reasonably be expected to adversely impact the quality of care rendered to a client; or
4. Exploit the practitioner-client relationship for personal gain.
B. Advocating for client safety or improvement in client care within a health care entity shall not constitute disruptive behavior provided the practitioner does not engage in behavior prohibited in subdivision A 3 of this section.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-2957.16 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 30, Issue 16, eff. May 7, 2014.
18VAC85-150-180. Solicitation or remuneration in exchange for referral.
A practitioner shall not knowingly and willfully solicit or receive any remuneration, directly or indirectly, in return for referring an individual to a facility or institution as defined in § 37.2-100 of the Code of Virginia or hospital as defined in § 32.1-123 of the Code of Virginia.
Remuneration shall be defined as compensation, received in cash or in kind, but shall not include any payments, business arrangements, or payment practices allowed by 42 USC § 1320 a-7b(b), as amended, or any regulations promulgated thereto.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-2957.16 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 30, Issue 16, eff. May 7, 2014.
18VAC85-150-190. Sexual contact.
A. For purposes of § 54.1-2915 A 12 and A 19 of the Code of Virginia and this section, sexual contact includes, but is not limited to, sexual behavior or verbal or physical behavior that:
1. May reasonably be interpreted as intended for the sexual arousal or gratification of the practitioner, the client, or both; or
2. May reasonably be interpreted as romantic involvement with a client regardless of whether such involvement occurs in the professional setting or outside of it.
B. Sexual contact with a client.
1. The determination of when a person is a client for purposes of § 54.1-2915 A 19 of the Code of Virginia is made on a case-by-case basis with consideration given to the nature, extent, and context of the professional relationship between the practitioner and the person. The fact that a person is not actively receiving treatment or professional services from a practitioner is not determinative of this issue. A person is presumed to remain a client until the practitioner-client relationship is terminated.
2. The consent to, initiation of, or participation in sexual behavior or involvement with a practitioner by a client does not change the nature of the conduct nor negate the statutory prohibition.
C. Sexual contact between a practitioner and a former client after termination of the practitioner-client relationship may still constitute unprofessional conduct if the sexual contact is a result of the exploitation of trust, knowledge, or influence of emotions derived from the professional relationship.
D. Sexual contact between a practitioner and a key third party shall constitute unprofessional conduct if the sexual contact is a result of the exploitation of trust, knowledge, or influence derived from the professional relationship or if the contact has had or is likely to have an adverse effect on client care. For purposes of this section, key third party of a client means spouse or partner, parent or child, guardian, or legal representative of the client.
E. Sexual contact between a supervisor and a trainee shall constitute unprofessional conduct if the sexual contact is a result of the exploitation of trust, knowledge, or influence derived from the professional relationship or if the contact has had or is likely to have an adverse effect on client care.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-2957.16 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 30, Issue 16, eff. May 7, 2014.
18VAC85-150-200. Refusal to provide information.
A practitioner shall not willfully refuse to provide information or records as requested or required by the board or its representative pursuant to an investigation or to the enforcement of a statute or regulation.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-2957.16 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 30, Issue 16, eff. May 7, 2014.