Boundary Crossing – Professional and Legal Implications

This module is intended to provide clinicians with information and tips on what boundary crossing in practice can be and situations to avoid. The module provides further detail on Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine (BOLIM) rules and how boundary crossing can impact you both professionally and legally. In addition, this module will provide deidentified real life professional case examples for you to consider as you watch the presentations. This module was developed to educate clinicians on professional boundaries in an effort to help clinicians avoid crossing boundaries with patients as well as colleagues and subordinate staff.

Learning Objectives:   

At the end of this module, participants will:

1. Better understand professional boundaries and how specialties, social media or even location of practice can impact those boundaries
2. Be able to identify concrete examples of crossing a professional boundary
3. Better understand the legal grounds upon which the Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine (BOLIM) may impose discipline for boundary violations.
4. Have examples of different types of boundary issues and violations.
5. Be able to identify some of the more potentially consequential legal and other collateral consequences that can stem from professional disciplinary action related to a boundary violation.

Module Structure:

This module is self-paced and available to any user who registers with the Maine Medical Association, Center for Quality Improvement Learning Lab. The estimated time to complete is approximately 90 minutes. The module consists of multiple sub-sections or units and will contain various elements, including hyperlinks to readings and web resources, video lessons, and pre-and post-assessments needed to obtain a CME Certificate or a SME Certificate of Participation.

The Maine Medical Education Trust designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.  Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the Maine Medical Education Trust and Maine Medical Association, Center for Quality Improvement. The Maine Medical Education Trust is accredited by the Maine Medical Association Committee on Continuing Medical Education and Accreditation to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

None of the planners or presenters for this activity have relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Duration & Fee:

• Estimated Time to Complete: 1.5 hours

(note: the module is divided into short digestible units [10-20 mins] which can be completed in small increments)

• Registration Fee: FREE for Maine Clinicians
• CME Credits Offered: 1.5

Hardware/Software Requirements:

• Computer with Internet connection
• Current version of Chrome, Firefox or Safari browser. You must have JavaScript enabled.
• The quiz tool within the online modules are not fully compatible with smartphones or tablets. In order to avoid issues, such as answers not being recorded, we recommend using a computer to complete the pre- and post-tests.

Assessment and Grading:

This learning module begins with a pre-test that will test your knowledge and allow you to gauge your baseline understanding of the topics to be covered. Your pre-test score will not count toward your overall grade. At the end of the module, there is a post-test that will determine your final grade. A comparison of your pre-test score and post-test score will help to assess how much knowledge you’ve gained. You will have three attempts to complete the post-test. Your score must be 75% or better in order to receive a certificate for CME credit. Please complete the evaluation survey at the conclusion of the learning module.

To Obtain a CME Certificate or a CME Certificate of Participation:

• Complete the entire learning module.
• Complete the pre-test, post-test, and Survey Monkey evaluation at the end of the module.
• Earn a score of 75% or higher on the post-test in order to receive a certificate.

Upon completion of the evaluation in Survey Monkey, including the required demographic information, a CME Certificate will be emailed to M.D.s and D.O.s and a CME Certificate of Participation will be emailed to all other learners. These certificates will be emailed within 10 business days of completing the evaluation.

Table of Contents:

• Introduction
• Disclosures and Speakers
• Pre-Assessment
• Unit 1 – Maintaining Boundaries in Medical Practice- Part 1
• Unit 2- Maintaining Boundaries in Medical Practice- Part 2
• Unit 3- Legal Overview
• Unit 4-Legal Grounds for Professional Disciplinary Actions
• Unit 5- Legal and Collateral Consequences
• Post-Assessment
• Evaluation Survey