How to Develop a So-So Case Into a Really Good One
We have a special treat today. A post from Karen Shelton, RN, CDMS, CNLCP. Karen is a legal nurse consultant that does a lot of work with the Steinberg Law Firm.
Stop: Think about the case. Visualize the accident, visualize the injuries-find out who all the participants in the case are: client, spouse, employer, physicians, therapists, case manager, adjuster, defense attorney. Everyone has an impact, positive or negative. Find out right away who is involved.
Look: What are the circumstances of the injury? What COULD have happened physically? What has been claimed? Have all possible injuries been addressed? What do the medical records suggest? Have you read, and understood, every piece of medical information you have? What information do you NOT have? Get it.
Listen: Take the time to really talk with the client, talk with the spouse, talk with co-workers, talk with the doctors-- what are the physical and emotional complaints? are there behavioral changes? What are the non-verbal complaints?
Develop: Make a plan of action. Talk to consulting doctors. Research all medical possibilities. Use a building block approach. Go back and talk to the doctors again, and again, as often as is needed to develop your ideas. Obtain documentation to support your contentions.
Tips: When I begin working on a new case, I read every piece of paper in the file. That includes medical records, letters, worker's compensation forms, personnel records-everything.
Then I meet with the client, for at least an hour, asking questions, listening to responses, talking with the family members, and understanding scope of injury, as well as current status. Many, many times, I find that not all medical problems have been addressed by either the physician or the attorney.
The next most important thing I do in preparing the file, is to develop an extremely organized medical records file with a detailed, written chronology. This is imperative. I use the chronology in all phases and stages of the case. Once I know what I have (from the review, the interview, and the analysis), then I begin the development. I have to know what I have before I can think about what I might have.
To: Karen Shelton, RN
Hi Karen, I am a Registered Nurse in SC, I am interested in becoming a Legal Nurse Consultant. Do you have any advice? Also, how are you doing in your business?
