NC Chiropractic Jurisprudence flashcards
NC Chiropractic Jurisprudence · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Chiropractic Practice Act
- North Carolina statute in Chapter 90, Article 8 that defines chiropractic, establishes the Board, and sets licensing and disciplinary authority.
- Board rulemaking authority
- The NC Board of Chiropractic Examiners adopts administrative rules in Title 21, Chapter 2, which carry the force of law for licensees.
- Grounds for discipline
- Statutory bases for Board action include unprofessional conduct, scope violations, fraud in licensure, impairment, and failure to meet continuing education obligations.
- Continuing education requirement
- License renewal requires the Board-specified CE hours in approved subject areas; false reporting of CE is itself a disciplinary offense.
- Unlicensed practice
- Practicing chiropractic without a valid license is a criminal offense; the Board may seek injunctions and issue cease-and-desist orders.
- Mandatory Board reporting
- Licensees must report specified events such as criminal convictions and disciplinary actions by other jurisdictions within the time the Board requires.
- Record retention rule
- Patient records must be kept for the period set by Board rule, running from the last professional service, and produced on Board request.
- License renewal cycle
- North Carolina chiropractic licenses renew annually; a lapsed license does not authorize practice until reinstated by the Board.
- Statutory scope of practice
- Chiropractic scope covers detection and correction of vertebral subluxations and diagnosis and treatment of the human body by manual or mechanical means.
- Diagnostic testing authority
- Chiropractors may order and interpret imaging and laboratory tests reasonably necessary to diagnose and treat conditions within their scope.
- Prescribing authority limit
- Prescribing legend drugs and performing major surgery are outside chiropractic scope in North Carolina absent an express statutory grant.
- Duty to refer
- A chiropractor must refer to an appropriate licensed provider when the condition is outside scope or the patient fails to respond to care.
- Informed consent elements
- Valid consent discloses the nature of the procedure, its material risks, and reasonable alternatives, including the option of no treatment.
- Supervision of assistants
- Unlicensed staff may not perform procedures reserved to the licensed chiropractor; the licensee remains responsible for delegated tasks and their outcomes.
- Chiropractor of record
- The licensee responsible for the diagnosis, plan of care, and overall quality of care delivered to patients in the practice.
- Prohibited guarantees
- A chiropractor may not promise or guarantee a cure or specific result, nor represent that chiropractic can cure conditions it cannot.
- Initial evaluation components
- The first visit record documents chief complaint, history of present illness, past history, review of systems, examination findings, and diagnoses.
- Imaging documentation
- The record must show the clinical indication for each imaging or lab study ordered and the interpretation supporting the diagnosis and plan.
- Visit note elements
- Each treatment note records date, subjective report, objective findings, assessment, treatment rendered, and the patient's response to care.
- Plan of care contents
- A documented plan states the diagnosis, measurable goals, expected frequency and duration of care, and criteria for re-evaluation and discharge.
- Objective progress requirement
- Continued care must be supported by documented measurable improvement or a documented rationale for a further trial of care.
- Record correction method
- Errors are corrected by a dated, signed addendum; the original entry is never altered or obliterated, preserving the audit trail.
- Release of records
- Records are released on proper written patient authorization; a summary may be provided where permitted, and copy fees are limited by statute.
- Documenting informed consent
- The record should reflect the risks, benefits, and alternatives discussed and, where required, a signed consent form.
- Fiduciary relationship
- The chiropractor-patient relationship requires placing the patient's welfare above the chiropractor's financial or personal interest.
- Sexual misconduct prohibition
- Sexual contact with a current patient is prohibited and constitutes grounds for discipline regardless of any purported patient consent.
- Confidentiality exception
- Patient information may be disclosed only with written authorization or as required or permitted by law, such as mandated reporting or court order.
- Billing integrity
- Billing for services not rendered, upcoding, or providing unnecessary treatment is unprofessional conduct and may also violate fraud statutes.
- Impairment obligation
- Practicing while impaired by alcohol, drugs, or illness is a disciplinary offense and may result in a Board-ordered evaluation or monitoring.
- Kickback prohibition
- Paying for or receiving compensation for patient referrals, and fee splitting, violate professional standards and may violate state and federal law.
- Truthful advertising
- Advertising and patient testimonials must be truthful and not misleading; claims of guaranteed results or superior outcomes are prohibited.
- Board investigation cooperation
- A licensee must cooperate fully with a Board investigation and must not alter, conceal, or destroy records after a complaint is filed.