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Establishing Future Medical Expenses
Attorneys, life care planners and legal nurse consultants wonder what impact the ACA will have on establishing future medical expenses. One landmark change that affects legal nurse consultants is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (popularly known as Obamacare or the ACA). This is a critical question for anyone charged with this task. We…
Read MoreHow to be a Successful LNC
I am boarding an airplane when I see a man sitting in my seat. Having learned that it is best to be assertive in this situation, I tap him on the arm and said, “Sir, I’d like to see your boarding pass.” He reacts to the authority in my voice. Without objecting he hands it…
Read MoreFalls in the Nursing Home
Falls in the nursing home may result in no or mild injury, but the resident does not always get off that easily. Head injuries in nursing home patients may lead to catastrophic damage as the skull hits the brain bounces against the front and back of the skull. Leslie was performing her 6 AM med…
Read MoreTraumatic brain injury: the impact of delays
An attorney asks you to review a case involving a 40-year-old man who fell on a sidewalk and sustained a traumatic brain injury. His CT Scan showed a small right-sided subdural hematoma. He was taken to the ICU and given supportive care including serial neurologic exams. You receive the records and note that the patient…
Read MoreCritical Care of Head Injury
Most people know someone affected by a head injury. Maybe that person is a child who fell from a playground swing or a football player who experienced a severe blow to the head. From the athlete who experiences a mild concussion to the driver involved in a major accident with a severe injury, traumatic brain…
Read MoreThe Pediatric Population & Head Injuries: Not Just Little Adults part 2
Legal nurse consultants may be asked to work on cases involving the pediatric population & head injuries. In the pediatric population, head injuries account for approximately 475,000 visits to emergency departments (ED) in the United States. Of those, more that 75% are considered mild traumatic brain injuries (Babcock, L. 2013). Data from emergency room visits…
Read MoreQuick and Easy Assessment of the Head Injured Patient: Part 1- The Adult Population
There are many things that go into assessment of the head injured patient who presents to the emergency department. Here’s what emergency department nurses are expected to look for in the proper assessment of an adult head injured patient. These tips will help you as a legal nurse consultant review the emergency department record of…
Read MoreCan Medical Errors be Prevented by Cognitive Computing?
Does cognitive computing offer hope in preventing medical errors? A 68-year-old man undergoes successful coronary artery bypass surgery. A week later, he develops pain and swelling in his right calf and returns to the hospital. Diagnosed with deep venous thrombosis (DVT), he receives dosages of heparin for someone half his weight. A few days into…
Read MoreAlcohol Withdrawal Liability
An attorney asks you to consult on a case involving a patient who is injured during alcohol withdrawal. She asks, “Is there alcohol withdrawal liability?” Dangers of delirium tremens Patients may be injured while going through alcohol withdrawal. Delirium tremens is the most severe form of alcohol withdrawal and occurs 3-10 days after the last…
Read MoreShould You Date a Former Patient Who Wants to Hire You?
You take care of Brian Waters, a personal injury attorney, at the hospital where you work. He asks you about your interests, and you say, “I am trying to break into the field of legal nurse consulting. He says, “I need a legal nurse consultant. I’d also love to go out with you. I think…
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