Medical Chaperones

Summary

A chaperone is an objective witness who serves to verify what is said and done in the clinical setting. This course is designed to provide the knowledge and skills necessary for one to serve as an effective chaperone, a valued member of the healthcare team.

Many chaperones are provided during patient appointments by medical offices on a voluntary, as-needed basis. By contrast, others are mandated by a regulatory (licensing) board, institution, or other credentialing or oversight entity, to chaperone a particular healthcare professional. By definition, this latter type of chaperone is expected to function to a higher standard of accountability than voluntary, as-needed chaperones. Although this course is appropriate for either type of chaperone, the content will spell out when certain aspects pertain to mandated chaperones only.

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Format

1. Self-paced online course combining online readings, interactive scenario-based activities, and knowledge checks
2. Certificate distributed upon successful completion of the final exam and course evaluation at the end of the course

Professions this course is suitable for:

This course is expressly designed for individuals-with or without a clinical background-who will function in a chaperone role. However, the content may be of particular interest to healthcare professionals who work with chaperones.

This course addresses issues such as:

• Clarifying the role of a chaperone and the role of the healthcare professional being chaperoned
• Communicating professionally and appropriately
• Maintaining neutrality and objectivity
• Establishing professional boundaries in the workplace
• Documenting and reporting requirements
• Navigating uncomfortable interactions and situations with patients and with the healthcare professional being chaperoned

Learning objectives

• Describe the variety of clinical settings in which a chaperone is used
• Compare the ways that chaperones, both those who have been mandated and those who are serving in a voluntary, as-needed basis, contribute to professional accountability in the delivery of health care
• Articulate the chaperone’s responsibilities to patients, clinicians, institutions, and, if applicable, licensing boards or other oversight entities
• Demonstrate techniques of observation in a variety of clinical scenarios
• Explain draping techniques for various types of physical examinations
• Illustrate ways of handling challenging situations, such as occasions when there may be objections to the presence of a chaperone or when the chaperone believes that something out of the ordinary has occurred
• Correctly document a chaperone's presence and involvement in any clinical encounter (as required), and provide that documentation to the board or oversight entity in the required format and according to the required timeline

Accreditation

Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #CEP 15761, for 2 CE contact hours.