All equipment in all industries requires safety practices to minimize risk, and laser technology in healthcare is no exception. Lasers come with well-defined safety protocols, and, of course, laser therapy providers need appropriate safety training to help ensure adherence to those policies. Unnecessary concerns about risk of injury from laser treatment can be relieved by proper training. Here is some information to help you manage safety appropriately in your chiropractic laser therapy program.
Class IV Laser Advantages Vs. Earlier Laser Technologies
Class IV lasers are much more powerful than Class III and earlier laser treatment technologies. The benefits of Class IV compared to older versions of chiropractic laser equipment include:
- More Therapeutic Range: Class IV lasers produce over 500 milliwatts of power, vs. Class IIIb, with its 500 mW maximum, to treat a broader range of therapeutic needs.
- More Effective Treatment: The stronger energy output of Class IV lasers can be set to penetrate deeper into the tissue, which makes treating injuries and chronic pain more effective.
- Shorter Length of Therapy: 5 minutes of treatment with a Class IV laser can generate the same amount of therapeutic effect as 100 minutes using a Class IIIb laser.
- Increased Functionality: Class IV laser therapy has reached new degrees of versatility and convenience of patient treatment with the patented Medray S.T.A.R. Hands-Free System.
Safety Tips for Providing Class IV Laser Treatment
Class IV lasers deliver today’s most effective chiropractic hot laser therapy. In laser treatment, it is the greater power of the laser equipment that makes it more potent, and more power means more safety responsibility. So, here’s a checklist of basic safety tips for Class IV laser treatment and equipment management:
| Laser Safety Training | Class IV lasers should be operated only by professionals who have received safety training and operations certification. |
| Laser Safety Management | Assign someone to serve as your group’s Laser Safety Officer, to be responsible for managing risk and ensuring compliance with all applicable standards and rules. |
| Inspect Laser Before Each Use | Perform a visual inspection of the laser unit and clean all optical connectors before using the equipment. |
| Protective Eyewear | Laser therapy patients and technicians must wear goggles designed to protect the eyes from the laser’s rays. |
| Avoid Looking at the Laser Light | Do not stare at the laser light. Blink frequently, as needed, and do not allow unprotected eyes to have prolonged exposure to the laser. |
| Patient Clothing | Patients should wear clothing for therapy that allows unhindered exposure of the treatment area, such as shorts, sweatpants, or a sports bra. |
| Skin Exposure | Prevent skin contact with the laser light at a close distance. |
| Laser Accessibility | Use the laser in a closed room or a curtained space with limited access |
| Laser Registration | Be sure to have your laser inspected and registered at the intervals required by your state, if applicable. |
| Laser Documentation | Keep your documents regarding your laser equipment complete and organized, and log treatment results. |
Certification for Operation of Class IV Laser for Treatment
There is a variety of options for chiropractors and other healthcare providers to obtain Class IV laser safety training certification, including:
- AIMLA: The American Institute of Medical Laser Applications (AIMLA) offers certification training.
- College Courses: Accredited courses, for example, the Harvard Medical School course in laser treatment includes laser safety training
- Medray Laser & Technology: Medray, through the MedLaser Foundation, offers a customer training program with Class IV Laser certification for chiropractors, physical therapists, and other healthcare providers.
- Doctor Oversight: Physicians can take responsibility for supervising non-medical professionals administering Class IV laser treatment under their state medical license.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are important benefits of using advanced Class IV laser treatment technology compared to Class III and earlier versions of this technology. Naturally, with more powerful equipment, more training is required to help ensure proper use and optimize safety practices. The solution to ease unnecessary concerns about operating it is a combination of proper training, preparation before using the laser, and careful work during each use.
For information about Class IV laser therapy, safety training, or the hands-free technology upgrade option, call Medray Laser & Technology at (573) 745-1086, or contact us here on our website.
The above information is for general learning purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice.
See your healthcare professional for personal medical guidance.
