Most aesthetic practitioners, clinicians and surgeons understand the importance of taking proper and detailed informed consent before undertaking any aesthetic treatment. With medical litigation laws tightening in the UK around aesthetic procedures and indemnity costs rising each year, skin clinics, beauticians and cosmetic surgeons are looking at ways to protect themselves even further when carrying out aesthetic treatments.
It’s one of the main reasons why many skin clinics are turning to electronic patient consent forms. Not only do they provide a very clear and simple way to collect client data, they look and appear professional too. This article examines three ways why the beauty industry is going electronic.
1. Enhanced security
Electronic patient consent forms for aesthetic procedures provide improved security; giving you peace of mind that information is stored securely and can be easily referred to months, if not years after the treatment.
Paper forms, on the other hand, can get lost, stolen and even damaged – and if something happens to them, there’s usually no backup.
2. Clearer understanding for the patient
Completing consent forms electronically will benefit both you and the client. Information is clearly displayed and any important legal information such as recovery period and any possible complications can be easily highlighted. Forms can also be customised to suit your brand – making the whole consent process slick and professional.
Incomplete and illegible paper forms leave us vulnerable to litigation but having all the information displayed electronically provides you with a detailed, accurate, and more importantly legible consent which, should any legal action be taken, will stand up better in Court.
3. Faster consultation process
With a rising number of patients wanting aesthetic procedures such as Botox, dermal fillers and thread lifts, aesthetic clinics, skin clinics and beauticians need to find ways to speed up the consultation process and make it as efficient as possible. Electronic consent forms can be completed much quicker than paper forms, especially in today’s digital age when people seem to find it easier and faster to type than to write.
Once the client has completed the consent form electronically, it can be automatically stored and archived. Paper forms, on the other hand, come with the administrative burden of having to transfer the information electronically, which can be considerably time-consuming.
New technology (apps and tablets) has provided a great platform to improve efficiency, appear more professional and reduce risks that may leave us vulnerable to litigation.
iPEGS is helping the cosmetic and beauty industry go paperless by offering easy-to-use, electronic forms that can be customised to your specific treatments and brand. These forms can be accessed on any device – forms can be completed remotely by the client before their appointment or they can be completed face to face on an iPad, tablet or laptop. Copies of the form are emailed to both the client and the clinic and they are also stored securely in the cloud for future reference if required.
Why not try them out? See how easy they are to use and customise by trying five forms for FREE. Sign up today or contact us for more information.
