Medical Records Review Expert Witnesses
In addition to providing a means of evaluating the patient’s medical history, medical record reviews are also utilized as a legal document detailing the treatments and expenses of each patient, which would be relevant in litigation related to healthcare insurance.
Attorneys, legal nurse consultants, paralegals, and expert medical witnesses also use medical record review to prepare for litigation. Typically, disability cases, personal injury lawsuits, fraud investigations, workers’ compensation claims, and medical malpractice cases involve comprehensive medical record review.
Given the legal importance of medical records, it is important that all details of each patient encounter are summarized in the medical records.
Clinical findings, decisions made and actions agreed to (by whom), instructions and information given to patients, prescribed drugs/treatment/investigation, patient’s progress, monitoring, and follow-up arrangements should all be included.