ABSTRACT

Legal Nurse Consulting Principles and Practices, Fourth Edition, provides foundational knowledge on the specialty nursing practice of legal nurse consulting. Legal nurse consulting is defined, and essential information about the practice is discussed (history, certification, scope and standards of practice, and ethical and liability considerations). The essentials of the law and medical records are explored. Analysis of the various types of legal cases on which legal nurse consultants work is provided, as are other practice areas for legal nurse consultants. The various roles and skills of legal nurse consultants are explored, and the textbook concludes with discussion of the ways in which legal cases are adjudicated.

This volume allows nurses to bridge the gap from their clinical experience to the unfamiliar territory of the legal world, with practical advice on topics including tactics for being cross-examined in the courtroom and investigative and analytical techniques for medical records. Individual chapters by subject-matter experts focus on the full range of legal, medical, and business issues that new or experienced legal nurse consultants and nurse experts will encounter in their work. A nuanced look at the realities and complexities of toxic torts, medical malpractice cases, civil rights in correctional healthcare, ERISA and HMO litigation, and other practice areas is offered.

Suitable for experienced nurses studying for certification as legal nurse consultants, and for expert witnesses, practitioners seeking to expand their current legal nurse roles, and other healthcare and legal practitioners.

section Section I|2 pages

Essentials of Legal Nurse Consulting

chapter 1|36 pages

History, Entry into Practice, and Certification

ByKaren J. Huff, Tricia West, Irene Kniss, Tracy Lynn Rodgers

chapter 2|18 pages

Professionalism, Ethics, Scope and Standards of Practice

ByJoan Magnusson, Elizabeth K. Zorn, Julie Dickinson

section Section II|2 pages

Essentials of the Law

chapter 3|28 pages

Legal Fundamentals

ByTonia Aiken, Adam B. Kuenning, Flynn P. Carey, Karen E. Evans, Zakiya Sloley, Grace Morse-McNelis

chapter 4|14 pages

Elements of Proof in Negligence Claims

ByCorey G. Lorenz

chapter 5|40 pages

Initiating Litigation, Discovery, and Disclosure

ByPeter I. Bergé

chapter 6|24 pages

Defense Medical Examinations

ByNikki Chuml

section Section III|2 pages

Medical Records

chapter 7|30 pages

Sources of Medical Information

ByPatricia J. Bartzak, Deborah Enicke, Patricia Ann “Stormy” Green

chapter 8|16 pages

Access to Medical Records

ByRachael Arruda

chapter 9|16 pages

Electronic Medical Records

An Overview
ByTodd A. Jennings

section Section IV|2 pages

Case Analysis

chapter 10|24 pages

Elements of Case Analysis

Screening Medical Negligence Claims
ByTonia Aiken, Phyllis ZaiKaner Miller, Marguerite Barbacci

chapter 11|24 pages

Case Analysis

Personal Injury
ByLinda Luedtke, Elizabeth K. Zorn

chapter 12|14 pages

Long-Term Care Litigation

ByElizabeth Murray

chapter 13|28 pages

Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Product Liability Litigation

ByVicki W. Garnett, Stacy Newsome

chapter 14|24 pages

Evaluating Toxic Tort Cases

ByWilliam P. Gavin, Mark A. Love, Wendie A. Howland

chapter 15|24 pages

Workers’ Compensation Case Evaluation

ByVictoria Powell

chapter 16|32 pages

Evaluating Forensic Cases

ByMarjorie Berg Pugatch, Deborah A. Wipf, Sandra Higelin, Jennifer Oldham, Anita Symonds

chapter 17|32 pages

Correctional Health Care and Civil Rights

ByJ. Thaddeus Eckenrode, Cynthia A. Maag, Mariann F. Cosby

chapter 18|34 pages

Employment Law and Occupational Health and Safety

ByKathleen P. Buckheit, Moniaree Parker Jones

chapter 19|18 pages

Informed Consent

ByKaren Wilkinson, Deborah A. Wipf, Elena Capella

chapter 20|16 pages

Medical Treatment Decisions

The Patient’s Choice
ByKelly Tanner, Paula J. Yost

section Section V|2 pages

Other Legal Nurse Consultant Practice Areas

chapter 22|28 pages

Risk and Patient Safety for the Legal Nurse Consultant

ByBruce Edens, Andree Neddermeyer

chapter 23|32 pages

The Life Care Planning Expert

ByTracy Albee, Mariann F. Cosby, Martha Heath Beach

chapter 24|30 pages

Medicare Set-Asides

ByJennifer C. Jordan, Leslie Schumacher

chapter 25|14 pages

Healthcare Provider Licensure Investigations and Administrative Proceedings

ByJulie Dickinson, Marian Ead

chapter 26|36 pages

Fraud

Government and Private Sponsored Health Plans and General Case Evaluations
ByRebecca Mendoza Saltiel Busch

chapter 27|14 pages

The Role of the Legal Nurse Consultant in the Insurance Industry

ByKari Williamson

chapter 28|10 pages

Bill Review

The Analysis of Claims for Healthcare Services
ByRebecca A. Reier

section Section VI|2 pages

Legal Nurse Consultant Roles

chapter 29|36 pages

Legal Nurse Consultant Practice within a Law Firm

ByElizabeth K. Zorn, Julie Dickinson

chapter 30|12 pages

The Independent Legal Nurse Consultant

ByAnne Meyer, Cathy Weitzel

chapter 31|38 pages

The Legal Nurse Consultant as Expert Witness

ByMariann F. Cosby, Tricia West

chapter 32|22 pages

The Expert Fact Witness

Medical Summary Preparation and Testimony
ByPatricia W. Iyer

section Section VII|2 pages

Legal Nurse Consultant Skills

chapter 33|10 pages

Communication with Attorneys’ Clients in the Medical Malpractice Arena

BySharon K. McQuown, Cheryl E. White

chapter 34|26 pages

Researching Medical Literature and Other Information

ByKaty Jones

chapter 35|12 pages

Report Preparation

Principles and Process
ByJoahnna Evans Budge

chapter 36|24 pages

Locating, Screening, and Communicating with Expert Witnesses

ByJulie Dickinson

section Section VIII|2 pages

Case Adjudication

chapter 37|24 pages

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

ByKelly K. Campbell, Sean Dennin, Patricia W. Iyer

chapter 38|22 pages

Alternative Dispute Resolution

Arbitration, Mediation, and Other Settlement Modalities
ByMargaret M. Gallagher, Annalese H. Reese, Paul K. Reese

chapter 39|28 pages

Trial Preparation and the Trial Process

ByDiane L. Reboy