Expertise
Medication Errors and Interruptions
How do medication errors occur? Think about the typical healthcare scene: The phone is ringing at the nurse’s station. The patients are putting on their lights asking for help. The IV pump is alarming. In the midst of this, the nurse is trying to give medications. A study showed that interrupting a nurse just once…
Read MoreElectronic Health Records Safety Part 2
Legal nurse consultants see errors that occur during a patient’s care. What are the sources of errors caused by electronic health care records safety as opposed to a healthcare provider? How do errors occur with electronic health records? Consider the impact of people, processes, technology and environment. People issues affect electronic health records safety How…
Read MoreElectronic Health Records Safety part 1
Do you understand the issues around the implementation of an EHR within a healthcare organization or provider practice? They can profoundly affect patient safety through electronic health records safety. Informatics knowledge will position you for a greater understanding of the scope and breadth of potential electronic health records safety errors and risks associated with an…
Read MoreAnalysis of Long Term Care Falls
My preparation for being a long term care expert witness When I first became interested in becoming a long term care expert witness, I knew that I had to have ample education, and that being able to prevent long term care falls was important. I already had lots of letters after my name. I had…
Read MoreCauses of Falls
Falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injures in people 65-years-old and older in the United States. They can play a catastrophic role in this population. A few ounces of prevention can go a long way in the causes of falls. Effective communication among the healthcare team, patients and their families impacts patient…
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…
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