Taking care of a patient with a serious medical condition is about more than just making sure he/she receives the right medical treatments. Healthcare providers must also take into account the patient’s unique wants, needs, and limitations to ensure the patient is comfortable
every step of the way. This is where an independent nurse case manager can assist.
If you’re an attorney involved in a medical malpractice lawsuit, the medical case managers at Cardinal Lifecare Consulting can assist. We will develop a nursing care plan, communicate with physicians and ancillary healthcare providers, and provide input for return-to-work disputes. Contact us today at 724-487-0519 to find out more about our services.
What is an Independent Nurse Case Manager?
An independent nurse case manager is an individual who oversees the long-term treatment plan for a patient. Typically, these case managers specialize in working with specific types of patients, such as patients with HIV/AIDS, cancer, or brain trauma.
A nurse case manager will create a nursing care plan to provide an overview of the patient’s current and future medical needs to help the patient attain optimal recovery. To compile this document, he/she will communicate with the patient, assess the patient’s medical records, look at medical research, review applicable standards of care, and consult with the relevant medical specialists.
While this detailed roadmap is beneficial to the patient’s well-being, it can also serve as valuable evidence in litigation or negotiations with insurers when proving damages and calculating compensation.
Important Elements of a Nursing Care Plan
While each nursing care plan is tailored to the unique condition and needs of the patient, many plans share key elements. Here is what you can expect to see in a typical nursing care plan:
- Information About the Patient: The nursing care plan will include information about the patient such as his/her age, sex, condition, complaints, etc.
- Patient’s Medical Diagnoses: Is the patient suffering from sleep deprivation due to the condition? How extensive is the condition? The case manager will answer these questions to provide a justification for suggested medical interventions.
- Nursing Interventions: Treatments prescribed to the patient to address the symptoms and help the patient attain optimal recovery. Nursing interventions might include pain assessments, pain medications, and observation.
- Rationale for Nursing Interventions: Reasons why these interventions were recommended.
- Patient Response: How the patient has responded to past nursing interventions.
Speak to an Independent Nurse Case Manager
If you’re an attorney working on a medical malpractice case, a nurse case manager can give you valuable insight into a patient’s medical needs, necessary treatments, and the related costs. To find out more, contact us today at 724-487-0519 to speak to one of our legal nurse consultants.
