What does a legal nurse consultant do?
A legal nurse consultant analyzes medical records and translates them for use in litigation or insurance matters. Tasks may encompass chart review, chronologies, identification of potential issues related to treatment or documentation, abstracting medical records, assisting with development of deposition questions for counsel, and referral of or communication with healthcare experts. Specific responsibilities vary according to case type, client needs, experience level and local regulations.
What does a legal nurse consultant do?
The nurse consultant links medical knowledge of the case with what the attorney needs to know. A nurse will look at the evidence and educate the attorney about what happened, when it happened and how it might have impacted the case.
Reviewing medical records
One of the most frequent tasks that an LNC will be assigned is reviewing medical records. LNCs may review hospital medical records, doctor's notes, nursing notes, medications, lab tests, radiology tests, insurance claims and billing records, as well as hospital discharge papers. The LNC will organize what is relevant, identify what is missing, look for inconsistencies in the date information, and locate any records that are unclear.
Organizing the case
For example, a consultant could draft a chronology, medical abstract or list of key providers and witnesses, which could enable counsel to draft a complaint, evaluate the strength of a potential claim, prepare for the discovery process or gain insight into the patient's care.
Analyzing the clinical information
Based on the case at hand, the LNC could investigate the patient's diagnosis, options for treatment, potential complications, and prognosis. The nurse could also determine if the record shows any concerns related to nursing care, drug administration, communication, patient assessment, consent, or discharge.
Helping with litigation
Some LNCs help attorneys prepare deposition questions, analyze expert reports, locate appropriate medical experts, or participate in meetings with the attorney. They may also assist in preparing demonstrative exhibits. Whatever services the LNC provides should be accurate and consistent with the nurse's education and experience.
This doesn't mean that she chooses which side "should" win a case. Neither does working with an attorney mean that a nurse is practicing law. Her role is to provide organized, medically-informed analysis for a legal team to make better decisions.