Legal Nurse Consulting Principles and Practices

Julie Dickinson, MBA, BSN, RN, LNCC Ms. Dickinson is a Senior Claims Analyst at Allied World Assurance Company, where she handles professional and general liability claims against the company's health care entity insureds. She previously worked as a Legal Nurse Consultant at a defense law firm, Fontaine Alissi, P.C. Julie is past President of the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants and a recipient of its Distinguished Service Award. She is board-certified in legal nurse consulting and has lectured and published on numerous legal nursing topics. Anne Meyer, BSN, RN, LNCC Ms. Meyer is President of Med-Law Connection, Inc., a legal nurse consulting firm established in 2005. A registered nurse for 30 years, she serves as a consultant, educator, and expert witness for law firms, insurance companies, and health care systems, nationally. Anne is past chair of the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants Certification Board and an item writer for the LNCC examination. She is board-certified in legal nurse consulting and has lectured and published on numerous legal nursing topics.

Section I: ESSENTIALS OF LEGAL NURSE CONSULTING









1. History, Entry into Practice, and Certification


Karen J. Huff, BSN, RN, LNCC (R); Tricia West, RN, BSN, MBA/HCM, PHN, CHN; and Irene Kniss, RN, BSN, LNCC (R); and Contributor: Tracy Lynn Rodgers, RN, BSN, LNCC (R), RN-CLTC, WCC, DWC





2. Professionalism, Ethics, Scope and Standards of Practice


Joan Magnusson, BSN, RN, LNCC (R); Elizabeth K. Zorn, RN, BSN, LNCC (R); and Julie Dickinson, MBA, BSN, RN, LNCC (R)


Section II: ESSENTIALS OF THE LAW





3. Legal Fundamentals


Tonia Aiken, RN, JD; Adam B. Kuenning, JD, LLM; Flynn P. Carey, JD; Karen E. Evans, BSN, JD; Zakiya Sloley, JD; Grace Morse-McNelis, BSN, JD










4. Elements of Proof in Negligence Claims


Corey G. Lorenz, Esq.










5. Initiating Litigation, Discovery, and Disclosure


Peter I. Berge, JD, MPA, PA-C Emeritus


6. Defense Medical Examinations


Nikki Chuml, MSN/Ed, RNC-OB, PRN


Section III: MEDICAL RECORDS









7. Sources of Medical Information


Patricia J. Bartzak, DNP, RN, CMSRN; Deborah Enicke, RN, CEN, COS-C, HCS-D; and Patricia Ann "Stormy" Green, RN, BSHS, RNFA









8. Access to Medical Records


Rachael Arruda, BA, RN, LNCC (R), CCM










9. Electronic Medical Records: An Overview


Todd A. Jennings, Esq.


Section IV: CASE ANALYSIS









10. Elements of Case Analysis: Screening Medical Negligence Claims


Tonia Aiken, RN, JD; Phyllis ZaiKaner Miller, RN; Marguerite Barbacci, BSN, RN, MPH, LNCC (R)









11. Case Analysis: Personal Injury


Linda Luedtke, MSN, RN and Elizabeth K. Zorn, BSN, RN, LNCC (R)










12. Long-Term Care Litigation


Elizabeth Murray BSN, RN, LNCC (R)










13. Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Product Liability Litigation


Vicki W. Garnett, RN, CCRC, LNCC (R) and Stacy Newsome, MSN, RN, LNCC (R)










14. Evaluating Toxic Tort Cases


William P. Gavin, Esq.; Mark A. Love, Esq.; and Wendie A. Howland, MN, RN-BC, CRRN, CCM, CNLCP (R), LNCC (R)










15. Workers' Compensation Case Evaluation


Victoria Powell, RN, CCM, LNCC (R), CNLCP (R), CLCP, CBIS, CEASII









16. Evaluating Forensic Cases


Marjorie Berg Pugatch, MA, RN, EMT-B, LNCC (R); Deborah A. Wipf, MS, APRN-GCNS-BC, LNCC (R); Sandra Higelin, MSN, RN, CNS, CWCN, CLNC; Jennifer Oldham, BSN, RN, CEN, SANE-A; and Anita Symonds, MS, BSN, RN, CFC, CFN, SANE-A, SANE-P










17. Correctional Health Care and Civil Rights


J. Thaddeus Eckenrode Esq.; Cynthia A. Maag, BA, RN, LNCC (R); and Mariann F. Cosby, DNP, MPA, RN, PHN, CEN, NE-BC, LNCC (R), CLCP, CCM, MSCC










18. Employment Law and Occupational Health and Safety


Kathleen P. Buckheit, MPH, BSN, RN, CEN, COHN-S/CM, CCM, FAAOHN and Moniaree Parker Jones, EdD, MSN, RN, CCM, COI









19. Informed Consent


Karen Wilkinson, MN, ARNP, LNCC (R), CNLCP (R) and Deborah A. Wipf, MS, APRN-GCNS, LNCC (R); and Contributor: Elena Capella, EdD, RN, CNL, CPHQ, LNCC (R)










20. Medical Treatment Decisions: The Patient's Choice


Kelly Tanner, BSN, RN, CCRN-A, CNLCP (R) and Paula J. Yost, Esq., LPCA










21. The Employee Retirement Income Security Act and Health Maintenance Organization Litigation


Diane Trace Warlick, RN, JD


Section V: OTHER LEGAL NURSE CONSULTING PRACTICE AREAS


22. Risk and Patient Safety for the Legal Nurse Consultant


Bruce Edens, MD and Andree Neddermeyer, RN, MBA, CPHRM, CSSGB









23. The Life Care Planning Expert


Tracy Albee, BSN, RN, PHN, LNCC (R), CLCP, FIALCP; Mariann F. Cosby, DNP, MPA, RN, PHN, CEN, NE-BC, LNCC (R), CLCP, CCM, MSCC; and Martha Heath Beach, MS, M.Ed., RN, CNS, ARNP, CNP, CRC, CCM, CDMS, CLCP, CNLCP (R), CCRN, CNRN, CNOR, LNCC (R), CCNS, ACNP-BC










24. Medicare Set-Asides


Jennifer C. Jordan, Esq., MSCC, CMSP-F and Leslie Schumacher, RN, CRRN, CCM, LNCC (R), CLCP, CNLCP, MSCC, CMSP-F










25. Healthcare Provider Licensure Investigations and Administrative Proceedings


Julie Dickinson, MBA, BSN, RN, LNCC (R) and Marian Ead, BSN, RN










26. Fraud: Government and Private Sponsored Health Plans and General Case Evaluations


Rebecca Mendoza Saltiel Busch, MBA, CCM, RN, CFE, CPC, CHSIV, CRMA, CICA, FIALCP, FHFMA










27. The Role of the Legal Nurse Consultant in the Insurance Industry


Kari Williamson, BS, RN, LNCC (R), CCM










28. Bill Review: The Analysis of Claims for Healthcare Services


Rebecca A. Reier, BS, RN, CRNA (Ret.), CCS-P


Section IV: LEGAL NURSE CONSULTANT ROLES









29. Legal Nurse Consultant Practice within a Law Firm


Elizabeth K. Zorn, BSN, RN, LNCC (R) and Julie Dickinson, MBA, BSN, RN, LNCC (R)










30. The Independent Legal Nurse Consultant


Anne Meyer, BSN, RN, LNCC (R) and Cathy Weitzel, MSN, APRN










31. The Legal Nurse Consultant as Expert Witness


Mariann F. Cosby, DNP, MPA, MSN, RN, PHN, CEN, NE-BC, LNCC (R), CLCP, CCM, MSCC and Tricia West, MBA/HCM, BSN, RN, CHN, PHN










32. The Expert Fact Witness: Medical Summary Preparation and Testimony


Patricia W. Iyer, MSN, RN, LNCC (R)


Section VII: LEGAL NURSE CONSULTANT SKILLS









33. Communication with Attorneys' Clients in the Medical Malpractice Arena


Sharon K. McQuown, MSN, RN, LNCC (R) and Cheryl E. White, MSHL, BS, AS, RN, LHRM, LNCC (R), MSCC, DFSHRMPS










34. Researching Medical Literature and Other Information


Katy Jones, MSN, RN










35. Report Preparation Principles and Process


Joahnna Evans Budge BSN, RN, CCRN, CLNC










36. Locating, Screening, and Communicating with Expert Witnesses


Julie Dickinson, MBA, BSN, RN, LNCC (R)


Section VIII: CASE ADJUDICATION









37. The Role of the Legal Nurse Consultant in the Preparation of Demonstrative Evidence


Kelly K. Campbell, RN, BSN, CP, CLNC, CLCP; Sean Dennin; and Pat Iyer, MSN, RN, LNCC (R)










38. Alternative Dispute Resolution: Arbitration, Mediation, and Other Settlement Modalities


Margaret M. Gallagher, RN, MSN, LNCC (R), CLNC; Annalese H. Reese, Esq.; and Paul K. Reese, Esq.










39. Trial Preparation and the Trial Process









Diane L. Reboy, MS, BSN, RN, LNCC (R), CNLCP (R), CCDS


Glossary


Noreen Sisko, PhD, RN


Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Commonly Used Legal Symbols


Noreen Sisko, PhD, RN


Index