Chapter 100-10 REASONABLE CARE AND SKILL DEFINED
In accordance with O.C.G.A. Sec.
43-9-12.1,
the definition of reasonable care and skill shall include, but not be limited
to, the following criteria:
| (a) |
A
doctor of chiropractic must bring to the exercise of his/her profession a
reasonable degree of care and skill which shall include the determination of
the need for chiropractic care as defined in Code Section
43-9-1(2).
| 1. |
The determination of the need for
chiropractic care shall include only those methods of determining the need for
chiropractic care, treatment, or referral which are taught by chiropractic
schools or colleges accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education or a
board approved successor. |
|
| (b) |
The doctor of chiropractic has the
responsibility as a primary healthcare provider to examine, establish a
diagnosis/clinical impression, render treatment and/or referral, commensurate
with his/ her findings.
| 1. |
Referral to an
appropriate health care provider shall be considered by the Board to mean the
direction of a patient to another licensed health care professional or
institution for evaluation, consultation or care. Referrals may be made for the
purposes of consultation, concurrent care, post-chiropractic care, the
administration of diagnostic procedures, the evaluation of diagnostic findings,
emergency care or because a clear determination has been, or should have been
made on the part of the chiropractor that a patient condition is outside
his/her scope of professional experience, training or practice.
| (i) |
For the purposes of this chapter the
Board shall define the term "licensed health care professional" to mean, but
not be limited to mean, any healthcare practitioner appropriately licensed or
certified in this or another state to practice one of the healthcare
professions. |
| (ii) |
For the purposes
of this chapter the Board shall define the term "licensed healthcare
institution" to mean any healthcare facility authorized or licensed by this or
another state to provide treatment or evaluation and shall include, but not be
limited to, hospitals, clinics, physical therapy or rehabilitation facilities
or clinics, diagnostic imaging centers, or licensed clinical
laboratories. |
|
| 2. |
Any
failure to refer a patient to an appropriate health care provider when it is
clear that a chiropractor knows or should have known that a patient condition
is outside his/her scope of professional experience, training or practice may
be considered by the Board to constitute unprofessional conduct subject to the
provisions of O.C.G.A. Sec.
43-9-12. |
|
| (c) |
A diagnosis/clinical
impression must be established based on the correlation of the history and the
examination into a logical and meaningful framework to determine the
chiropractic care to be utilized. |
| (d) |
The doctor of chiropractic is expected to
render adjustments in accordance with specific chiropractic methods when such
treatment is indicated. |
| (e) |
The
doctor of chiropractic may utilize ancillary physiological therapeutic
procedures in conjunction with adjustments of the spinal structures in
accordance with Rule
100-9-.01. |
| (f) |
The doctor of chiropractic may utilize
procedures, as may be authorized by statute, and as are necessary to provide a
reasonable degree of care and skill in the rehabilitation of the
patient. |
| (g) |
Records shall be
maintained clearly showing the progression of the events under clinical review,
diagnosis/clinical impressions, chiropractic care and case management. All
records shall be available as provided in O.C.G.A. Title 31, Chapter
33. |
| (h) |
Original patient x-ray
films or accurate copies shall be retained for not less than ten (10) years
from the date of each x-ray exposure.
| 1. |
Except as provided in subparagraph (h), all other patient records, including
radiological diagnosis and clinical impressions, shall be retained for not less
than ten (10) years from the date of the last examination or treatment by the
doctor of chiropractic. |
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