Provider Code of Conduct

Purpose:  

To establish the standards of professional conduct, ethical practice, and platform compliance that all Headway providers are required to uphold as a condition of their participation on Headway's platform.

Applicability:  

Therapymatch, Inc., d/b/a as Headway, and its affiliates and subsidiaries (collectively, "Headway," "we," "us," or "our") and all of its associated Professional Corporations (PCs), including but not limited to all current and future PCs.

Definitions:

• Provider — Any licensed mental health professional or prescriber contracted with Headway to deliver clinical services through its platform.
• Code of Conduct — The set of professional and ethical standards all providers are required to uphold as a condition of their contract with Headway.
• Hateful Ideology — Any belief system that promotes discrimination, dehumanization, or harm against individuals or groups based on protected identity characteristics.
• Conversion Therapy — Any practice aimed at changing an individual's sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

Policy:

As a participant on Headway's platform, all providers are required to abide by this Code of Conduct in all business matters, both online and in-person, with Headway and in all communications with patients. The following conduct may result in removal from Headway's platform: 

• Targeting or harassing someone based on their identity. This includes written, verbal, and physical abuse. 
• Language or content that:
  • Uses dehumanizing comparisons, generalizations and/or stereotypes towards racially marginalized groups, religiously marginalized groups, and other protected identities. 
  • Supports or glorifies hateful ideology (e.g., white supremacy, racism, misogyny, anti-LGBTQ, antisemitism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, and more)
  • Disparages victims of violent tragedies
  • Calls for exclusion and segregation practices
  • Depicts, promotes, normalizes, or glorifies sexual violence
  • Supports conversion therapy 
  • Spreads misinformation about diseases or international/domestic crises 
  • Wishes death, illness, or harm on another individual
  • Uses profane terms to describe protected identities 
  • Targets transgender, gender fluid, or non-binary individuals through misgendering or deadnaming
  • Targets a person or group on the basis of their protected identities
• Revealing the physical personal address or other identifiable information of another person with the intent of encouraging trolling or violence.

All providers practicing on Headway are required to adhere to this Code of Conduct. These policies also apply to a provider's use of social media, LinkedIn, online forums, and listservs. Headway reserves the right to remove providers from the platform at any time for violations of this Code of Conduct, regardless of whether the conduct occurs on or off the Headway platform. Headway may modify this Code of Conduct in its sole discretion.

Procedures:

1. Compliance with Provider Agreement and Policies
   1. Comply with all Headway policies and any applicable local, state, or federal laws, regulations, and professional standards as a condition of your contract.
   2. Notify Headway as early as possible if you anticipate any issues associated with your licensing or credentialing status, including problems related to license renewals, board investigations, or credential expirations.
2. Quality Care and Service Delivery
   1. Provide evidence-based therapies tailored to individual patient needs.
   2. Regularly assess the effectiveness of treatment and adjust care plans accordingly.
   3. Clearly communicate practice policies to patients.
   4. Maintain documentation that accurately and wholly represents the care provided.
   5. Submit documentation to Headway in a timely fashion when requested, to support compliance with billing and third-party payer requirements.
3. Professional Conduct
   1. Communicate with Headway and patients professionally and respectfully at all times.
   2. Avoid any communication that could undermine the therapeutic relationship or patient trust.
4. Integrity and Professional Standards
   1. Adhere to high ethical standards in all professional responsibilities and duties.
   2. Comply with the ethical codes of your applicable professional licensing board(s).
5. Respect for Patient Rights and Autonomy
   1. Respect the rights and autonomy of patients, valuing their input in decision-making regarding their own care.
   2. Support patient empowerment and self-determination throughout the treatment relationship.
6. Non-Discrimination, Cultural Competence, and Sensitivity
   1. Recognize and respect the diversity of patients.
   2. Provide culturally competent care, acknowledging and valuing differences in background, identity, and lived experience.
   3. Do not discriminate in the provision of services based on any protected identity characteristic.
7. Ethical Patient Selection
   1. Conscientiously assess your capacity, expertise, and available resources before accepting new patients.
   2. Ensure equitable and ethical allocation of care, and refer patients appropriately when their needs are outside your scope of competence.
8. Effective Communication and Collaboration
   1. Prioritize clear and open communication with patients and with Headway to ensure comprehensive and coordinated care.
9. Compliance with Licensure Regulations and Requirements
   1. Adhere to all relevant laws, regulations, and professional standards governing your license(s).
   2. Ensure that your services meet the requirements of all state license(s) under which you practice.
10. Safety and Risk Management
    1. Prioritize the safety and well-being of patients at all times.
    2. Conduct thorough risk assessments, implement appropriate safety measures, and coordinate with Headway's clinical team when safety concerns arise.
    3. Respond promptly to emergency situations.
11. Boundaries and Professional Relationships
    1. Establish and maintain appropriate professional boundaries with patients and colleagues.
    2. Avoid dual relationships and conflicts of interest that could compromise clinical judgment or patient welfare.
12. Ethical Decision-Making
    1. Take responsibility for your actions and decisions.
    2. Make ethical choices guided by your commitment to patient welfare and the highest standards of your profession.
13. Personal Wellness and Self-Care
    1. Acknowledge personal limitations and proactively seek support or supervision when encountering challenges that could affect your professional performance or patient care.

References:

• APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct
• NASW Code of Ethics
• NBCC Code of Ethics