What is a Legal Nurse Consultant?

    A Legal Nurse Consultant is a registered nurse who has completed specialty legal training and/or certification that specificially teaches identification and interpretation of medical and nursing issues in any case involving medical issues, illness, injury and education of clients, juries and staff.


Why do attorneys need Legal Nurse Consultants?

    The attorney is the expert in the legal field.  A Legal Nurse Consultant has a vast and varied experience in the healthcare system.  The Legal Nurse Consultant is the perfect bridge into the healthcare system and expertise for review medical records, understanding complex medical issues and educating their clients and the community on medical issues.


Why should attorneys consult with a Legal Nurse consultant if they already use a MD?

    Because Legal Nurse Consultants have experience with a wide variety of medical, nursing and patient education issues, they are the perfect healthcare provider for the initial review of the medical record and case issues.  The Legal Nurse Consultant can assist with identifing appropriate medical experts as well as assist with locating the expert required for the case. This is a far more cost effective service for the attorney and saves time and money that may be spent unneccessarily on expensive experts before their expertise is needed.


I have a paralegal in my office.  Why would a Legal Nurse Consultant be different?

    A paralegal and a Legal Nurse Consultant are not competitors.  A Legal Nurse Consultant brings expertise and experience in the healthcare field to review a case with the knowledge and attention to medical details and information that is defferent from a paralegal and can bring medical expertise to your case.


When should an attorney call a Legal Nurse Consultant?

    The earlier an attorney consults with a Legal Nurse Consultant, the less time will be spent in wasting time and money reviewing the medical record without the necessary medical expertise.  Even at the time that case is still a potential, a Legal Nurse Consultant can be invaluable by screening the case for medical issues, orgnanizing the records and well as working with the attorney on identifying the actual issues of the case and if it has merit.


Can a Legal Nurse Consultant assist an attorney with locating testifying experts?

    Absolutely.  Because a Legal Nurse Consultant is part of the healthcare community, they have access to MDs and Nurses respresenting every medical specialty.  Using a nationwide Legal Nurse Consultant community, we are able to search nationwide for the expert most appropriate for your case.  In most cases you will be given the CVs of 2-3 experts that the Legal Nurse Consultant has reviewed to match your case, and the attorney makes the final decision of the expert they want for the case.


Can a Legal Nurse Consultant be a testifying expert?

    Many Legal Nurse Consultants are also available to be a testifying expert.  Most Legal Nurse Consultants work behind the scenes to assist in medical review, research, litigation support and education.


Can a Legal Nurse Consultant testify to Medical Practices or a MD testify to Nursing Practices?

    A testifying nurse or physician can only testify to their own scope of practice.  Physicians cannot testify to standard nursing care and nurses cannot testify to physician standards.


If an attorney does not do litigation in their practice, why would they need a Legal Nurse Consultant?

    Legal Nurse Consultants are invaluable in assisting in many non-litigation areas.  Nurses are experts at medical, nursing and health education for patients, families as well as other health professionals.  Legal Nurse Consultants can assist attorneys in interpreting medical issues, assisting in research and developing educational materials including storyboards, articles, and speaking engagements for attorney groups, law firm staffs and the community.


Do Legal Nurse Consultants only work with attorneys?

    No.  Legal Nurse Consultants can be found in any health-related areas: Insurance, Risk Management, Quality Assurance, Financial Advisor Health Partners as well as Independent Practices, In-house Law Firms.  Any corporate or community area that works with health-related issues can benefit from the services of a Legal Nurse Consultant.


Do you give educational presentations?

    Yes.  I give free inhouse presentations to legal or insurance firms, hospital and nursing institutions, and community bases groups such as business networking groups or other community groups.  Topics can be from a variety of presentations I give frequently, such as "Understanding Living Wills" or "Using Health Organizers", or on a topic of interest or need to your group.


Do Legal Nurse Consultants give legal advice to clients?

    No.  Legal Nurse Consultants do not give any kind of legal advice to clients.  All questions or legal issues are referred to attorneys.  The only reason a Legal Nurse Consultant would meet with an attorney's client would be to clarify medical issues, accompany a client on an Independent Medical Exam if the attorney asks, or help the attorney prepare the client for possible medical interrogatories.

Do you only work with attorneys or other clients, in Colorado?

    No.  I am able to work with clients nationwide.  We can work by telephone or email depending on the needs of your case.  Call me and we can discuss what you need and how I can be of service.

Do you ever use Legal Nurse Consultant subcontractors?

    Yes.  I am happy to use subcontractors when there is a case need.  If you are interested, please contact me and we can discuss your interests and subcontracting details.