SCREEN/INVESTIGATE CASES FOR MERRITT
Screening is the initial service provided by the CLNC® to assess whether cases have merit or are defensible. Screening is an objective opinion, usually delivered verbally or by email and is expected to take 3-8 hours to complete depending on the complexity of the case.
ASSESS ALLEGED DAMAGES/INJURIES
Identify actual damages/injuries in the case, the significance, potential for recovery, expected outcomes, complications and present level of recovery.
ASSESS CAUSATION FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO DAMAGES/INJURIES
Identify factors that may have caused or contributed to the alleged damages/injuries. Determine variances that indicate that the alleged damages/injuries were not caused by the incident under investigation.
DEFINE APPLICABLE STANDARDS OF CARE
CLNC®’s will research, obtain and apply the appropriate Standards of care in place at the time of the incident. Standards of care being the measuring tool for determining whether a healthcare provider was negligent in their actions causing a breach of duty.
ASSESS CAUSATION FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO DAMAGES/INJURIES
Identify factors that may have caused or contributed to the alleged damages/injuries. Determine variances that indicate that the alleged damages/injuries were not caused by the incident under investigation.
ORGANIZE, TAB AND PAGINATE MEDICAL RECORDS
Medical records can be very confusing, often out of sequence, and difficult to determine the order of care/events. CLNC®’s can organize the medical records for each individual Attorney, tab important events and deviations, creating a better timeline.
DETECT TAMPERING WITHIN MEDICAL RECORDS
The CLNC® is an expert on medical records, and is very aware of the significance of tampering in any case and the alert signals to look for when reviewing every medical record assigned to them.
SUMMARIZE, TRANSLATE & INTERPRET MEDICAL RECORDS-WRITTEN REPORTS
Once all relevant medical records are organized, analyzed, standards of care applied, legal elements investigated and an opinion formed, a report can be written. Reports can be brief, moderate or comprehensive and may be designed in several formats. Some styles of formats include narrative, chronological timeline, summary with comment, outline or chart layout. Each personalized for individual attorney needs and requests.
IDENTIFY POTENTIAL DEFENDANTS
Plaintiff attorney wants to sue all culpable parties before statute of limitations expires and defense has vested interest in knowing who all culpable players are. CLNC®’s can help identify those defendants in a timely manner.
LITERATURE SEARCHES, INTEGRATING THESE INTO ANALYSIS
Literature searches may include, specific articles, journals, books, audio-visual, internet or library searches. There are many reasons for medical literature searches including, obtaining factual information, educating attorney or client, locating experts or locating standards of care. These search results can then be included in the final report.
RESEARCH VALIDITY/RELIABILITY OF RESEARCH STUDIES
It is important to verify that any research study being relied upon by all parties is factual and authoritative. A CLNC® can analyze these studies to ensure their validity.
IDENTIFY/REVIEW ALL RELEVANT RECORDS AND TANGIBLE ITEMS·
A CLNC® can help identify relevant records, documents and tangible items necessary to the case. These may include medical records, hospital policies and procedures, photographs, rhythm strips, hospital bills etc.
EXPAND ATTORNEYS MEDICAL LIBRARY
A CLNC® can help identify and locate appropriate medical text books, journals or articles to help the attorney increase their knowledge about each specific case and generalized medical terminology and practice.
CONSULT WITH HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS
The CLNC® can help communicate and coordinate during the litigation process with other healthcare providers, including, chiropractors, respiratory and physical therapists, physicians, Nurse practitioners and other members of the medical tea
IDENTIFY TESTIFYING EXPERTS REQUIRED
A CLNC® can review the medical records and help pin point the types of testifying experts that will be required/suggested for each case.
LOCATE EXPERTS
CLNC®’s can research and locate potential expert witnesses for Attorneys to interview and select for their case needs.
COMMUNICATE WITH POTENTIAL TESTIFYING EXPERTS
The CLNC® can communicate with potential expert witnesses, plaintiff and defense, translate medical terminology and help assess their suitability as a witness.
ANALYZE AND COMPARE EXPERT WITNESS REPORTS
A CLNC® can examine witness reports from the opposing team and verify accuracy of material, witness suitability and strengthen own litigation teams material.
SERVE AS LIAISON BETWEEN ATTORNEY AND ALL OTHER PARTIES
The CLNC® can be “the go between” between all parties concerned, translating medical information for both Attorney and clients as needed
PREPARE INTERROGATORIES
CLNC®’s can help write up a list of potential interrogatories that have been identified during the medical record screening and /or report writing.
REVIEW AND DRAFT RESPONSES TO LEGAL DOCUMENTS
The CLNC® can assist the Attorney in reviewing the opposing team’s responses to interrogatories, requests for production and requests for admission and help draft answers to discovery requested of them.
ASSIST IN EXHIBITION PREPARATION
The CLNC® can play a vital role in helping prepare demonstrative evidence for deposition or trial.
PREPARE DEPOSITION AND TRIAL QUESTIONS
The CLNC® can assist in drafting deposition/trial questions specific to the case
REVIEW, ANALYZE AND SUMMARIZE DEPOSITIONS
The CLNC® can review deposition transcripts of relevant witnesses and experts and prepare a summary
ATTEND DEPOSITIONS, TRIALS, ARBITRATION'S AND MEDICAL HEARINGS
The CLNC® can be an invaluable tool at depositions, mock trials, trials, medical examinations, and all forms of alternative dispute resolutions. CLNC®’s can help draft questions, review transcriptions, identify inconsistencies and errors in medical information given and help assess the credibility and effectiveness of an expert.
HELP PREPARE WITNESSES/EXPERTS FOR DEPOSITION/TRIAL
The CLNC® can assist the attorney in preparing the witnesses/experts for trial, ensuring the material to be included is accurate and up to date for the time of the incident. That the medical information to be given is relevant to the case in hand and is presented in a clear, concise and appropriate manor.
PREPARE WRITTEN REPORTS FOR STUDY TOOLS USED BY ATTORNEYS
At the time of depositions, trials or ADR’s it is useful to have a “cheat sheet” for attorneys to use in order to ask the appropriate and relevant questions for each individual case.
COORDINATE/ATTEND INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS
A physical, mental or post mortem examination may be needed for many reasons, the CLNC® can assist in coordinating and attending any/all of these to ensure, correct procedure, accuracy, reliability and appropriate information reported by the examiner.
DEVELOP LIFE CARE PLANS
A person’s future medical needs can be difficult to predict. A CLNC® has the medical expertise to be able to help determine those, often complicated needs and the potential cost associated with them.
ASSIST IN FOCUS GROUPS AND MOCK TRIALS
A CLNC® can help set up mock trials/focus groups in all the same ways that they can with depositions and trials from start to finish.