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A series of articles emphasizing practical
knowledge you can't find in practice guides
and interviews with experts who share
their techniques for effective and efficient
case management
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Articles emphasizing practical knowledge you
can't find in practice guides
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Profiles of people who changed workers’
compensation law.
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• Warren Schneider
• Marjory Harris
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< Continued from Page 1
A quick review of the records may
show that they have no real relevance to the
issues in the case. For example, you're dealing with a leg injury
and the records
are all about allergy treatment for hay fever. A note in your case
management
system, or wherever you keep a log of records ordered and reviewed,
can
indicate this {
See Excel Worksheet).
If the records are relevant to analysis
of the case, you will want to make a separate
summary. There are many ways to do this, but I try to follow the “KISS”
rule [“keep it
short and simple”]. The tendency is to keep notes as you go
along on a yellow pad.
That can produce pages of unorganized notes that cannot be entered
into your
computer without dictating or typing. By working directly in the computer
file, you
can save a lot of time and money, especially if you delegate this
task.
By working in two windows, one for the PDF file and one for your summary
file, you
can quickly cut and paste the most important data, or note page numbers
and
document links. Use Alt-Tab or side-by-side windows to go back and
forth.
(Click to Enlarge)
You can put your summary in a word processing program, or a table
you create in
your word processing program, along the lines described for the Excel
worksheet.
If you use the sample Excel Organizer, make sure to save it to your
client’s folder
before adding data, so you always have a clean worksheet.
Whatever program or method you use, your notes on reviewing subpoenaed
records are far more useful if you link them to the issues in your
case. Adding a
column for followup/todos makes it easy to keep track of what items
need further
development or explanation.
(Click to Enlarge)
As you discover medical terms or
medications you are not familiar with, look them
up online and add a note to the summary. The Excel Organizer has some
links to
connect you directly to websites to make this task easier. You can
add your own
to the template.
You can export the Excel worksheet
or other summary to a PDF file and send it to
your client for their review and comments. You may need to change
your strategy
because of what you found in the records, and this is a good time
to advise the
client of new issues or concerns.
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