1 CE Hour. Continuing Education for Office Hours (CE for OH) Session.

Developed by Roy Huggins, LPC NCC
Presented by Roy Huggins, LPC NCC; Liath Dalton

Close-up of dew on a spider's web

The PCT experts answer commonly-asked questions about legal-ethical considerations for websites, therapist directory profiles, and Facebook pages and identify risk management solutions.

This introductory-level update course for counselors, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, and clinical and counseling psychologists will help learners to understand primary considerations and sound risk management solutions for creating a practice website that meets the content and functionality requirements necessary to comply with HIPAA, include content that meets ethical standards, and manage risks related to Facebook business pages and therapist directory profiles.

1 CE Hour. Continuing Education for Office Hours (CE for OH) Session.

Educational Objectives

  • Update learners’ websites for HIPAA compliance when accepting messages or other information submitted through the site
  • Update learners’ websites to meet applicable ethical standards for website content
  • Describe ethical issues and risk management considerations for the 3 most popular therapist profile websites

Syllabus

  1. What HIPAA Security standards and ethical standards impact websites and therapist directory profiles?
    • Protected health information (PHI) and how it is defined
    • Web hosting and the Business Associate Rule
    • The Transmission Security standard
  2. How do websites contact PHI? How can we manage the associated security risks?
    • Where website information goes and how to keep track of it
    • Website brochure information
    • Blog posts
    • Self-help information or recordings
    • Downloadable practice forms (often as PDF files)
    • Contact information
    • “Contact Me” pages
    • Self-scheduling widgets
  3. What content items do I need on my website for legal-ethical reasons?
    • Website accessibility, legal-ethical standards and solutions
    • Posting professional credentials
    • Client testimonials
    • Posting information for clients and the community
  4. What are some important legal-ethical considerations in Facebook pages, GoodTherapy Profiles, and Psychology Today profiles?
    • Potential confidentiality issues
    • Comments from clients and potential clients
    • HIPAA issues in contact through these sites

Citations:

  • American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. (2015). Code of Ethics . Alexandria, VA: Author.
  • American Counseling Association. (2014). ACA Code of Ethics. Alexandria, VA: Author.
  • American Psychological Association. (2010). American Psychological Association Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct . Washington, DC: Author.
  • National Association of Social Workers. (2017). Code of Ethics . Washington, DC: Author.
  • National Board for Certified Counselors. (2012). Code of Ethics . Greensboro, NC: Author.
  • US Dept. of Health and Human Services. (2006). HIPAA Administrative Simplification . Washington, DC: Author.
  • US Dept. of Health and Human Services. (2013). HIPAA Omnibus Final Rule . Washington, DC: Author.

Vital Stats

Date and Time: April 26th, 10AM Pacific / 11AM Mountain / Noon Central / 1PM Eastern
Venue: The event will be held via interactive webinar during an Office Hours session.
Cost: Included in membership.
Availability: This is a live event. On-demand replay is included in membership.

Course Developer/Primary Presenter

Roy Huggins, LPC NCCRoy Huggins, LPC NCC, is a counselor in private practice who also directs Person-Centered Tech. Roy worked as a professional Web developer for 7 years before changing paths, and makes it his mission to grow clinicians’ understanding of the Internet and other electronic communications mediums for the future of our practices and our professions.

Roy is an adjunct instructor at the Portland State University Counseling program where he teaches Ethics, and is a member of the Zur Institute advisory board. He has acted as a subject matter expert on HIPAA, security and clinical use of technology for Counseling licensure boards and both state and national mental health professional organizations. He has co-authored or authored 2 book chapters, and he routinely consults with mental health colleagues on ethical and practical issues surrounding tech in clinical practice. He served for 5 years on the board of the Oregon Mental Health Counselors Association and then the Oregon Counseling Association as the Technology Committee Chair.

He really likes this stuff.

Course Co-Presenters

Liath Dalton is a Ph.D candidate in Religious Studies. She began her academic career at Reed College and continued her graduate work at the University of Cape Town.

Liath is the Deputy Director for Person Centered Tech and runs our HIPAApropriateness review program. Through her combination of experience evaluating products for their utility and security in regards to how they can meet risk management needs and providing guidance to members around what product options will best meet their specific practice needs, Liath has an intimate knowledge of both what the practice tech needs are for mental health professionals and what it takes for a product to meet those needs.

Program Notices

Accuracy, Utility, and Risks Statement: The contents of this program are based on publications and reports from the federal Department of Health and Human Services and consultation with experts on HIPAA Security standards and their implementation; statements from ethics committee authorities at the major professional associations; and personal study from the program developers. Some interpretation and analysis presented is made by the presenter, in consultation with knowledgeable colleagues and expert consultants. Statements about applications to technology are according to presenter’s understanding of the technology at the time of the program. The presenter may not know how to apply all principles discussed to every technology type or product. This program discusses strategies for complying with HIPAA and covered ethics codes. It may not include information on all applicable state laws. Misapplication of the materials, or errors in the materials, could result in security problems, data breaches, or non-compliance with applicable laws or ethics codes.

Conflicts of Interest: None.

Commercial Support: This program has no commercial support.

All events for this program will be subject to our cancellation/refund policy and complaint policy.

Photo by Sam Erwin on Unsplash

ACEP LogoPerson Centered Tech Incorporated is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Person Centered Tech Incorporated maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

ACEP LogoPerson Centered Tech Incorporated has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6582. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Person Centered Tech Incorporated is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

State Approvals

Person Centered Tech is an approved provider continuing education provider with the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling. CE Broker Provider #50-23706.

Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board accepts continuing education credits from providers approved by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health.

Person Centered Tech Incorporated is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0540.

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