5 Ways all Medspas can Improve Patient Safety (and thus Patient Satisfaction)
August 01, 2025Everyone deserves to feel comfortable and confident in their own skin. However, potential patients need to be comfortable and confident in YOU first.
Go Beyond the Minimum Requirements of your State.
As we’ve explored before, different states can have wildly different regulations and requirements.
The best way to be a trusted professional is simply by acting like one. Ensure all of your medical procedures are performed or at least directly supervised by trained professionals. Most states require aesthetic injections to be performed by someone with a medical license, such as a registered nurse. Ideally, you would have a board-certified physician on your staff as your medical director.
That may sound obvious, but you’d be surprised. Many medspas simply have a physician “on paper.” In Texas, you don’t need to have a medical license to administer injections. You just need someone with a medical license supervising. However, supervising can be a loose term in this context. For example, one medspa in Dublin, TX, listed a physician as its supervisor. However, that physician worked three hours away in Tyler, TX. Hard to supervise when you’re a road trip away.
Go beyond your state’s minimum requirements. Have licensed professionals on the premises and inform patients when there is no physician on site. Maintain a robust staff of well-trained and certified professionals. And, of course, adhere to strict infection control.
Don’t just get insurance, understand your insurance policy thoroughly.
Again, regulations vary across states, but there is no federal law mandating medspas or their staff to have medical malpractice insurance.
Comprehensive malpractice is essential. It protects you from lawsuits, medical errors, and adverse outcomes. It is also a good idea to get general liability insurance to cover injuries and property damage.
When shopping for personal insurance, most people search for the cheapest, which often gives the bare minimum. So our best advice is to spend the time and money talking to a lawyer and insurance agent. Ideally, before you need them. They’ll provide personalized guidance so you can protect yourself and your business.
Consent starts with Communication.
Use plain language to clearly explain the procedures, risks, alternatives, and potential adverse outcomes. Of course, all written consent forms should be thoroughly documented.
This is often an overlooked skill, so we highlight patient communication in our training courses. Our courses give you opportunities to speak with a real model, understand their goals, and develop a personalized treatment plan. We also teach you how to answer their questions, handle patient anxiety, and explain realistic outcomes. Some providers go above and beyond by using visual aids and written materials to educate their clients.
Communication is also vital for your staff. Foster an environment of safety and transparency by informing your staff of protocols, changes in procedures, and any incidents. The goal is to instill a habit of clear communication across all staff.
Encourage Monitoring and Reporting.
This should be a given, but let’s cover our bases. You should have a clear and easy system of monitoring and reporting adverse events as soon as they happen.
The goal of reporting and monitoring is to have clear documentation of the accident so you can protect yourself legally. Documentation also helps the patient as they seek medical recovery.
Federally, med spas are not required to report device malfunctions. Yet we recommend voluntarily reporting any problems through the FDA’s MedWatch program.
Once the dust settles, review that documentation and discuss it with your staff. You don’t want another adverse event to occur, so drill down to the root causes and take corrective actions. For example, maybe one small gap in your infection control protocol led to an infection.
Continuous Education Keeps You Sharp.
Even if you have already done every medical aesthetic training course under the sun, there is always room for improvement. Continuous education keeps you sharp as a professional and valuable as an employee. Medical Aesthetics is a very competitive field, and more certifications can raise you above the competition.
The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Association (ASDSA) recommends that training be done on-site. That’s why we do customized in-office training. If there is something particular you feel is lacking in your practice, we can address it directly. Train your staff where they’ll be working and set them ahead of the competition.
Improve Patient Safety. Improve Patient Satisfaction.
Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Always consult the official resources and seek legal counsel if necessary for complete and accurate information regarding specific regulations and practices.