Expertise
How 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 MoreDeath in Seclusion and Restraints
You may be asked to consult on a case involving a death in seclusion and restraints. The use of seclusion and restraints has fallen off in recent years, as healthcare practitioners have become aware of their dangers. Here is what can happen: Case of death in seclusion and restraints A forty-six year old man with…
Read More10 Tips for Writing a Polished Expert Witness Report
You are interested in writing a polished expert witness report. You know an expert witness’s report is one of the most critical documents in a medical malpractice suit. In states that require them, the report lays out the opinions of the expert witness. Once the report is written it becomes difficult if not impossible for…
Read MoreHow to Document an IME
You may find it unnerving and insurmountable to take notes the first time you are asked to document an IME. This is called an independent medical exam, insurance medical exam or a defense medical exam. Here are tips on how to document an IME. The exam is required by the insurance company to prove or…
Read MoreCopying and Pasting in Medical Records: How to Recognize It
As a legal nurse consultant, you are in an ideal position to detect copying and pasting in medical records. This is what you might see: A staff nurse copies the note she wrote the previous day. Or she copies the note written by the previous shift. The attending physician copies a progress note he wrote…
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