Medical record analysis is vital to evaluate liability in a medical malpractice case. Attorneys preparing their case require early risk assessment so that the crucial medical data contained in the plaintiff’s medical records can be extracted. This comprehensive review of the medical records provides the attorney with information such as patient demographics, all medical encounters, diagnoses, lab tests and their results, and a host of other details. When the review is done by a professional medical record review firm, it provides an objective analysis of the medical chart and a clear summary of the entire patient journey.
What Is Evaluated in a Medical Negligence Lawsuit?
Proper evaluation includes accurate review of the patient’s injuries, the medical evidence and literature supporting the care provided, and an analysis of causation and damages. Medical record analysis is very significant when assessing liability related to standard of care. A thorough review of the records reveals the merits of the plaintiff’s claims as expressed in the lawsuit. The medical record entries provide information regarding the standard of care issues involved in the case. It also helps determine compliance/non-compliance and the impact on the defensibility of the case. These details help the attorney develop appropriate theories of defense.
The analysis of the plaintiff’s medical records also helps assess liability related to causation. The medical evidence obtained is necessary to evaluate damages related to injury and disability. It helps calculate current and future medical special damages.
What Details Are Included in the Early Risk Assessment Report?
- An overview of the significant details in the medical chart in an easily understandable format
- Medical case summary highlighting significant clinical events
- Objective review of the severity of medical findings
- Summary of strengths and weaknesses
- Diagnostic testing and results
- Hyperlinks to relevant medical records
A medical review company can also provide detailed medical chronologies and provider of care reports if required. Since each anchor event is included separately, it provides an overview of all areas of potential liability. The references included in the Early Risk Assessment are linked to the particular page of the medical record where the information is found. This makes it easy for the attorney to review the details.
Medical malpractice claims arise from factors such as the following:
- Medication errors
- Misdiagnosis
- Surgical errors
- Labor and delivery injuries
- Anesthesia errors
- Failure to diagnose
- Improper billing
- Medically unnecessary services
- Improper referrals
Doctors practicing in the following areas may find themselves at medical malpractice risk, when they may require the support of medical malpractice attorneys and reliable medical record review services:
- General medicine
- Pain medicine
- Pediatrics
- Gerontology
- Anesthesiology
- General surgery
- Emergency medicine
- Cardiology
- Gastroenterology
- Internal medicine
- Radiology
- Urology
- Orthopedics
- Gynecology & Obstetrics
With accurate early risk assessment, attorneys will have the high-level information needed to evaluate risk, and develop a proper defense strategy. Early risk assessment is also used in the early evaluation of COVID-19 cases and possible liability. Given the voluminous nature of medical records pertinent to a medical malpractice case and the significance of the medical data contained therein, attorneys would surely benefit from value-added solutions such as medical record organization, review and early risk assessment provided by a medical review firm. Professional reviewers can easily find the relevant medical facts, and present them as valuable and unbiased insights for the attorney developing a plausible defense or settlement strategy.
