I often get asked if Naturopathic Doctors can legally and ethically offer online programs.
I get it, the colleges and boards have very strict guidelines around treating patients you haven’t seen or people outside of your licensed geography.
Their concerns are 100% legit, how could you possibly treat a patient you’ve never met?
So therefore how could you possibly offer a group program online to treat complete strangers?
You can’t!
But…
You can still offer online programs legally and ethically.
Huh? I hear you ask!
Let me explain.
When you write a blog, are you treating a patient or simply providing valuable health information to educate people about a health issue or what might be causing some common symptoms?
When or if you write a book on an area of health as many NDs have successfully done, are you/they treating a patient or providing valuable insight into what typically causes problems with this area of health and how natural medicine might be able to help alleviate common symptoms and/or contribute to a healthier lifestyle?
Same question when it comes to videos, podcasts, speaking engagements, Facebook lives, live interviews or any other form of content delivery.
The answer is obviously no, you are not treating a patient, you are educating people who are dealing with a health concern.
Your online programs are the same thing!
You are not, and should not, treat or suggest that you are treating any one patient in your online programs. Instead you should and can provide valuable, educational health information based on your education, experience, knowledge from your years of experience as a Naturopathic Doctor.
If you share in an online program that reducing sugar and carbohydrates in one’s diet often helps people who may have been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes balance their blood sugars and you share common sugar alternatives or provide low/no sugar recipes that you like, and you recommend that they check with their doctor to make sure this is right for them … that’s education, not treatment.
If you share that a burger and fries and a Coke will not be as healthy for someone as eating a salad or drinking a green shake, and that when people eat more salads than burgers and fries they often experience weight loss which can result in more energy, focus, less night sweats, and overall wellbeing… that’s not treating a patient. It’s helping and educating people understand common healthy diet choices that may help them live a healthier lifestyle and may reduce common symptoms of being overweight.
You see my point?
Doctor’s then often ask me: What about when someone in their online program asks a specific question about their symptoms or situation.
Simple; the answer should always be:
“Unfortunately there are a myriad of things that could be causing your symptoms and my challenge is I don’t know enough about your specific situation to be able to advise you on what might be causing your issue, so the best, and only advice I can give you is to schedule a new patient appointment with me or your doctor so we/they can explore exactly what might be causing your specific symptoms and develop a care plan to eliminate the root cause of the problem”
Bottom line folks, don’t be afraid to share your knowledge, experience and content that you know is valuable health information in your group or online programs. Keep your content general, share best practices and not specific to any single person.
You will be helping more people, reaching a wider, global audience and enjoying more income, impact and freedom than you ever imagined possible.
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