What Is A Certified Legal Nurse Consultant?

     "The Certified Legal Nurse Consultant is a licensed Registered Nurse who performs a critical analysis of the health care facts and issues and their outcomes for the legal profession, healthcare professions, and others as appropriate. With a strong educational and experiential background, the Certified Legal Nurse Consultant is qualified to assess adherence to standards of healthcare practice as it applies to the nursing and healthcare professions." 

American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants.

     "The Certified Legal Nurse Consultant (CLNC) is an entirely different
asset than the paralegal or legal assistant. The CLNC brings specialized
knowledge of the health care system, nursing and even medicine.  CLNC'S are capable of a far wider range of activities than the non-nurse
paralegal and the two roles should not be confused."

Medical-Legal Consulting Institute, Inc.

     �The Certified Legal Nurse Consultant can be an invaluable asset to the legal community whenever there are medical issues involved in any case, whether it be malpractice, personal injury, fraud, abuse, billing issues or refusal of insurance reimbursement.  The Certified Legal Nurse Consultant can evaluate issues involving Managed Care or Workman's Compensation.  Whenever there are injuries of any nature, the Certified Legal Nurse Consultant can be a desired asset to the legal team in identifying the causal links between an event and the injury.�

 Why Hire a Legal Nurse Consultant?

   A Certified Legal Nurse Consultant (CLNC) is able to provide the client with an accurate, rapid and objective overview of medical-legal cases.

   The CLNC can save the attorney time and money by developing a strong case through investigation, research and case theme.

     A CLNC acts as a valuable and cost-effective resource in the organizing and summarizing of medical records, the interpreting of complex medical information and in educating the client in a straightforward, clear manner. The professional fees of a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant are also less than those charged by physicians and other experts for similar services.

   A CLNC can also assist in the preparation of interrogatories, attend depositions and conduct pertinent medical literature searches. A CLNC
is able to complete these activities more efficiently than non-medical persons because of a CLNC's thorough knowledge of medical terminology, understanding of medical records and protocols, and experience with the inner workings of hospitals and the complexities of standards of care.

   A CLNC can identify and provide focus on specific areas of a case and
present an objective analysis of its strengths and weaknesses. In addition, through important connections in the medical community and other key areas, a CLNC is able to discover information beyond the obvious sources and may uncover facts that could win or settle a case. The primary role of the legal nurse consultant is to educate jurors, attorneys, judges, plaintiff or defendant clients, laymen, resource consultants.

Services A Certified Legal Nurse Consultant provides:

  • Screen cases for merit.
    Summarize and paginate medical records.   
    Define applicable Standards of Care.
    Address causation issues, including preexisting conditions.
    Assess damages and/or injuries.
    Expert witness location and referrals.
    Identify the types of testifying and consulting experts needed.
    Identification of documents to be requested .
    Conduct medical literature searches.
    Identify evidence of medical records tampering.
    Deposition and trial assistance.
    Identify a chronological account of events with identification of
    adherence to or deviations from the Standards of Care.
    Brief and comprehensive summary reports.
    Assist with deposition, interrogatory questions, requests for
    production and demonstrative evidence.
    Serve as liaison between the attorney and health care providers,
    testifying experts and other consultants.

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