"This new text is based on Frederic G. Reamers key reference for practitioners, Social Work Malpractice and Liability: Strategies for Prevention. Rooted in his own experiences as an expert witness in court and licensing board cases, the volume introduces the concepts of negligence, malpractice, and liability before turning to the subject of risk management. Reamer identifies the issues in behavioral health services relating to privacy and confidentiality, improper treatment and delivery of services, impaired practitioners, supervision, consultations and referrals, fraud and deception, and termination of service. He also explores the unprecedented ethical challenges created by new digital technologies-such as online counseling, video counseling, and practitioners use of social networks and social media. Updates includes: -Significantly increased challenges and risks related to remote service provision, especially during COVID-19, about informed consent, confidentiality, professional boundaries, and documentation. -Issues with The 21st Century Cures Act, which obligates many behavioral health providers to provide clients/patients with remote access to their clinical records. This has introduced new challenges regarding documentation and related privacy issues, especially when vulnerable clients/patients access clinical records without the clinician present.
-Pandemic-related novel risk management issues. Am I allowed to ask my clients/patients about their vaccination status? Do I disclose my own vaccination status to them? How do I respond if a client/patient insists on in-person sessions and I am not comfortable providing them? -The "privacy audit" requirements under the HITECH (Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health) Act, and how to conduct a privacy audit related to agencies electronic records. -New trends in litigation against behavioral health organizations alleging fraud. Often these are so-called "qui tam" cases, where a whistleblower discloses allegedly fraudulent activity related to agencies billing of insurance companies and Medicaid"--.