| deciding if a case is in need of a legal nurse you | | | | Now What? |
| should know what a legal nurse is. A Certified Legal | | | | Much as with any preparation prior to a legal |
| Nurse consultant (CLNC) is a registered nurse who | | | | proceeding one of the most important factors is |
| has expertise as a healthcare professional plus | | | | documentation. In a medical case complete copies of |
| specialized training to consult on medical-related cases | | | | medical records are essential. That will allow a CLNC |
| in which injury is a factor. An CLN's expertise in | | | | to review the case properly. CLNC's also find the key |
| understanding medical records and the terminology | | | | facts for a case from school records, employment |
| and subtleties of healthcare issues can help to | | | | records, known experience, and more. |
| achieve the best results for attorneys and their | | | | Before proceeding with a case for medical |
| clients (Vickie Milazzo Institute Certified Legal Nurse | | | | malpractice, negligence, personal injury, or other |
| Consultant Program). | | | | instances where health is involved, a CLNC will need |
| There are 2 key things to remember about a legal | | | | to review the medical records and provide an opinion |
| nurse. | | | | as to possible issues, and standard or substandard |
| 1. An CLNC does not give out legal or medical advice | | | | quality of care (Combine Nursing and the Law |
| 2. An CLNC evaluates the case from a nursing | | | | through Legal Nurse Consulting, Meghan Persichino, |
| perspective to determine whether or not the nursing | | | | RN, BSN, LNC nursing spectrum). |
| standards of care were or were not violated | | | | There are circumstances that require very specific |
| (Find Legal Nurse Consultants To Review Your Case | | | | type of CLNC's but for the most part, some of the |
| — Hospice Patients Alliance) | | | | general services provided are: |
| The Benefit | | | | Screening of cases for strengths and |
| When clients come to you with a potential personal | | | | weaknesses. |
| injury or malpractice case, the expertise of a CLNC is | | | | Identification of prior medical conditions. |
| definitely worth considering. Getting the clinical | | | | Organization and summarization of medical |
| perspective from a professional can help determine | | | | records. |
| the strengths and weaknesses of the case medically. | | | | Identify missing records and tampering issues. |
| Of course, a legal nurse may also determine that | | | | Schedule/attend independent medical exams. |
| there's not a case at all. | | | | Identify causation and contributing factors of |
| While working on the case, legal nurses identify key | | | | injuries. |
| people in the case and help determine what their | | | | Develop questions for interrogatories and |
| professional standards of care are according to the | | | | depositions. |
| organization that accredits them. When a case would | | | | CLNC's are more affordable than physicians for |
| benefit from an expert witness, legal nurses can | | | | testimony, and if the case needs to go to a |
| work with the attorney to find the right expert | | | | physician, the CLNC's summary of the case will help |
| witness to address any questions regarding the | | | | the physician understand the pertinent details |
| issues of the case. | | | | contained in the records. |