Good Faith Exam Template: The Med Spa Owner’s Guide to Compliance and Patient Safety

The Med Spa industry is evolving fast… and so are the rules.

Across the country, states are tightening safety and compliance requirements, with new laws defining exactly who can perform a Good Faith Exam (GFE) and when it must be done. If you own or operate a Med Spa, the message is clear: the GFE is a legal requirement, a patient safety safeguard, and a critical piece of your business reputation.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• What a Good Faith Exam really is (and isn’t)
• Who can perform it in most states
• When and how often it should be done
• Why a Good Faith Exam template is essential, but not enough on its own
• How Spakinect helps Med Spas stay compliant and efficient

What Is a Good Faith Exam?

A Good Faith Exam is a patient’s initial medical evaluation conducted before any treatments in your med spa. Its purpose is to confirm the client is an appropriate candidate, identify potential risks, and establish a provider–patient relationship.

A GFE should:

• Confirm the patient’s identity
• Collect a thorough medical history, including medications, allergies, and pertinent surgical history
• Perform a focused physical assessment of the area(s) to be treated
• Determine whether the proposed procedure is safe and appropriate, or if alternatives should be considered

While the process is medical in nature, for you as the owner, it’s a shield against liability and a way to demonstrate your commitment to ethical, safe practice.

Who Can Perform a GFE?

Rules vary by state, but in most cases a GFE must be conducted by:

• A physician
• A nurse practitioner (NP)
• A physician assistant (PA)

Some states allow RNs to gather information as part of the process, but they cannot make the final determination or prescribe treatments without review by a qualified provider.

Why this matters to you as an owner:

If the wrong person performs the GFE or if the GFE is incomplete, you’re the one at risk for fines, legal action, or license suspension for your business.

Knowing your state’s rules, and enforcing them across your team, is non-negotiable.

When Does a GFE Need to Happen?

A GFE must be done before the patient’s first treatment of a specific type. It doesn’t need to be repeated for every session in a treatment series, but it should be repeated if:

• The patient requests a new procedure not included in their current plan
• The patient’s health or medications change significantly
• More than 12 months have passed since the last GFE (best practice is at least annually)

Riskier or more invasive treatments may require more extensive evaluations, and patients with complex medical histories will need extra attention.

Why Are GFEs a Business Essential, Not Just a Legal Box to Check?

Compliance & Legal Protection

A properly performed GFE shows regulators that your Med Spa takes patient safety seriously. It protects you from malpractice claims and regulatory penalties, and in a competitive market, being able to say you operate to the highest standards is a selling point. Learn how good faith exams help protect against board investigations.

Patient Safety & Satisfaction

Thorough GFEs help you match the right treatments to the right clients, preventing complications and building trust. Clients who feel you care about their well-being are more likely to come back and refer friends.

Brand Reputation

In an industry where one bad incident can go viral, consistent safety practices set you apart. Med spas that prioritize compliance attract higher-value clients and tend to keep them longer.

Telemedicine & Virtual GFEs: A Modern Solution

Most states allow GFEs to be performed via telemedicine.
Studies have found virtual consultations to be as effective, and sometimes more effective, than in-person visits for a variety of conditions. They also:

• Reduce wait times
• Lower costs for patients and clinics
• Minimize follow-up visits
• Increases Med Spa capacity
• Allow businesses to focus on revenue-generating activities and save on admin time

For Med Spa owners, the benefits of telemedicine mean:

• Faster onboarding for new patients
• Easier scheduling and fewer cancellations
• The ability to scale your business without sacrificing compliance

Spakinect’s telemedicine platform connects your clients to on-demand licensed providers who can perform GFEs remotely, document everything securely, and keep you compliant in your state.

Why a Good Faith Exam Template Matters- and Its Limitations

A Good Faith Exam template is your starting point for standardizing patient evaluations. It ensures your providers capture all critical information, including:

• Demographics
• Medical history
• Patient’s treatment goals
• Current medications and allergies
• History of past aesthetic treatments
• Assists in identifying contraindications

But here’s the catch:
A template alone doesn’t make you compliant. The quality of a GFE depends on:

• The type of treatment (different devices = different questions)
• The patient’s comfort level and ability to disclose medical history
• The provider’s ability to adapt questions based on the treatment and the patient’s responses

Our downloadable GFE template covers the fundamentals, but it’s designed to be adapted to each patient and procedure by a qualified provider.

Why Work With Spakinect

We help Med Spa owners, like you, stay compliant, protect your business, and deliver a better patient experience.

With Spakinect, you get:

• An on-demand nationwide network of licensed providers who can legally perform GFEs in your state – so, no scheduling headaches.
• Gold-standard protocols that meet or exceed regulatory requirements
• A proven telemedicine platform for faster, easier patient onboarding
• One GFE covers multiple treatments

Bottom Line for Med Spa Owners

A Good Faith Exam is a cornerstone of safe, successful, and sustainable Med Spa operations. The right process protects your business and your patients – not to mention, strengthens your reputation. Use our GFE template to get started, but pair it with the right team so you can grow your business with confidence.