Gift, Social Media, Landlord, and a Minor Patient

Jordan should decline the $150 gift card because it exceeds the clinic's $50 policy and could create a boundary or inducement problem. A brief, appreciative refusal is appropriate: acknowledge the gesture, explain the policy, and avoid accepting the card 'just this once.' For social media, Jordan should not accept the friend request or follow the patient's fitness page while in a therapeutic relationship. The clinic policy supports this boundary. Jordan can explain that the clinic keeps patient relationships professional and that social-media connections blur roles. If the patient persists, Jordan should document the request and the response. Jordan should not discuss the patient's care on social media or allow the patient's page to become a de facto treatment channel. The lease issue makes an additional boundary even more important.

The spouse's ownership of the clinic building creates a potential conflict of interest, especially with lease renewal in 60 days. Jordan should disclose the situation to the supervisor or clinic owner and ask that someone else handle the lease discussion. Jordan should not let the patient's status as the landlord's spouse influence clinical decisions, discharge timing, or scheduling. If the relationship is likely to impair objectivity or create patient discomfort, Jordan should consider transferring Ms. Park's care to another PT. The disclosure and decision should be documented. The clinic should separate business negotiations from clinical care. Even if no actual favoritism occurs, the appearance of a dual relationship can undermine trust and create a Board complaint risk.

Treating a 14-year-old requires consent from a parent or legal guardian and appropriate chaperoning and documentation. Jordan should not treat the daughter informally at the mother's request without those safeguards. The offer of cash for 'extra manual therapy' at Jordan's home after hours should be declined. It creates a boundary violation, an employment and billing problem, and a risk of substandard care outside the clinic's policies. Jordan should explain that all treatment must occur through the clinic with proper authorization and billing. Jordan should document the requests, the declines, and any referral options for the daughter. If the daughter needs care, Jordan can offer a clinic appointment with guardian consent. The supervisor should be informed when available.