Legal nurse consultants and PDFs

Are you effectively using software to create Portable Document Format files when you write legal nurse consultant reports?
Legal nurse consultants and PDFs go together for medical record review.

Adobe Acrobat is probably the most recognized application for use in viewing PDFs. Another application is eCopy PDF Pro Office. Features available within these applications offer many ways for you to organize records and minimize the time required to complete reports.

Legal Nurse Consultants and PDFs

Adobe Systems is a combination of application software and services available on the internet. Adobe Systems includes several products including Reader, Adobe Standard, and Adobe Professional (and more). Be sure you know the differences.

• Reader is a freeware option that can view, print and annotate files created in PDF format.
• Adobe Standard offers the same features as the Reader, but also allows more options such as OCR (optical character recognition), identifying text, organizing pages, applying page numbers, and merging multiple PDF files into a single document. Bates stamping is also available. (Bates stamping refers to numbering pages.)
• Adobe Professional is a robust application very similar to Adobe Standard, but has increased functionality and ease of use. Electronic signature, data encryption, and enhanced printing features are also available.

eCopy PDF Pro Office, another application that can manipulate PDF files, is similar to Adobe Acrobat. eCopy offers many of the same features. Both of these applications provide a link to Lexis Nexis CaseMap. This link is especially beneficial when creating detailed or extensive chronology reports.

Be sure to research your choices prior to purchasing any software application. Investigate the software features, ease of use, and cost. Determine what features you need for your business.

Networking with colleagues is a great way to find out how the product works in the world of legal nurse consulting.

Once you determine the product you wish to purchase, search for any sales or special discounts. You might qualify for a discounted price through one of your professional organizations. Also, if you are enrolled as a college student, you may qualify for discounts.

Software applications can make our processes more efficient. Legal nurse consultants and PDFs create efficiency. Establishing these processes requires time and the ability to prioritize which features will generate the greatest benefit for your practice. Mastering use of these features also requires time and patience.

Give yourself a window of learning and don’t try to master the software a few days before a big report is due.

Be sure to determine what type of report the attorney is requesting and whether the extra work is warranted: do you really need to scan all the paper records provided, Bates stamp the records, or electronically organize the records into a combined document? Does the attorney understand the extra time these steps require? Will you be faced with an unhappy attorney who disputes the amount of hours on the invoice? Having the tools is important, but knowing when to utilize the tools is also an important factor to consider when you are retained for that case.

Mila Carlson, PhD, MSHSA, RN, CLNC, CNLCP, LNCP-C wrote this blog post and presented a digital program called Medical Records Arrived: Deciphering Electronic or Paper Records.
In this one hour webinar you will learn how to:
1. Evaluate medical records provided for a case to organize and improve efficiency
2. Develop awareness of processes to facilitate record review and report writing
3. Incorporate tips for medical record organization and review into your LNC practice

Invest in the digital download.