Medical Records
The gold in nurses’ notes
Attorneys, legal nurse consultants and experts carefully examine nursing notes. Here are 4 top reasons to do so. 1. Comprehension: Nursing documentation is often the key to understanding the events that spawn a nursing or medical malpractice claim. The medical record can refute or support the plaintiff’s or defendant’s version of events. 2. Screen cases:…
Read MoreMedical Damages
Here are some of the medical details the attorney needs to establish damages in a personal injury or medical malpractice case. The legal nurse consultant can be an effective ally in ferreting out details of damages. 1. Is there an incident report, if the injury occurred as a result of an event? Although it may…
Read MoreAdobe Acrobat versus Adobe Reader: What is the Difference?
What is a PDF? A PDF stands for Portable Document Format. It is a distribution file or format that a software company called Adobe developed. It allows the transfer of electronic information between various types of computers such as Macintosh and a PC. Adobe Reader is the name of the software developed by Adobe to…
Read MoreWhy Should You Create PDFs?
Most of us have viewed PDF (Portable Document Format) files online at some point, but there are many reasons you might want to create PDF files for yourself. Here are some of the advantages of the PDF file format: • PDF files can be viewed by anyone with an internet connection. Unlike Microsoft Word or…
Read MoreReviewing Medical Records on CD or Paper – Which is Better?
9 Advantages of Reviewing Medical Records Using Adobe Acrobat This blog post refers to using a computer monitor and Adobe Acrobat to review medical records that have been saved as PDFs. 1. It’s more cost effective. Consider the costs of a copier, a scanner, toner, paper, postage, and maintenance of a copier machine, compared to…
Read MoreComputerized medical records and medical errors
There is a strong trend to computerization of medical records. This method of recording information about a patient offers many advantages. Pen and paper medical records are plagued by illegible handwriting along with non-standardized and dangerous abbreviations, which can lead to medical errors. Electronic records are legible and are programmed to use only approved terminology…
Read MoreComputerized medical records – forensic issues
There is a strong trend to computerization of medical records. This method of recording information about a patient offers many advantages. Access to a medical record may be electronically limited. For example, a nursing assistant may be permitted to only enter vital signs but not review orders, laboratory results, or write nursing notes. A paper…
Read MoreComputerized medical records problems
Computerized medical records are here to stay. Not perfect, but better than handwritten records. This method of recording information about a patient offers many advantages but also some significant disadvantages. Computerized medical records have drawbacks that affect the legal nurse consultant’s ability to analyze medical records. Drawbacks of computerized medical records Electronic health records can…
Read MoreComputerized medical records and litigation
Attorneys and legal nurse consultants spend much time poring over computerized medical records and litigation intensifies the need to understand these records. There is a strong trend to computerization of medical records. This method of recording information about a patient offers many advantages in litigation. Computerization of documentation provides some benefits for those involved in…
Read More“If you didn’t chart it, you didn’t do it”, Part 4: Common Medical Record Deficiencies
Nursing homes are affected by many challenges, many of which directly affect the quality of care and allegations of nursing home negligence. The challenges were highlighted by speakers at Preventing and Defending Long Term Care Litigation at The Conrad in Miami. Pat Iyer moderated a panel of defense and plaintiff attorneys and another legal nurse…
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