Mission

The primary mission of the Advanced Legal Nurse Consultant (ALNC), and Expert of Medical Legal Specialties (EMLS) is to provide high quality services to organizations in need of medical records review, interpretation, or analysis that meet the standards enforced by the LNI Institute, Inc. Certified ALNCs and EMLSs offer services for plaintiff as well as defense clients and can locate and/or act as testifying experts. The defining feature of the certified LNA, ALNC, and EMLS is the rigorous hands-on training achieved while meeting the live case training requirements of the course. In addition to passing the certification exam, each student is required to complete all homework, casework and presentations and meet the standards set forth by the LNI Institute, Inc in this Standards of Practice Declaration.

The Purpose of this Standards of Practice Declaration

Professional ethics and quality of work are at the core of the Legal Nurse Associate (LNA), Advanced Legal Nurse Consultant (ALNC), and Expert of Medical Legal Specialties (EMLS) Certifications. The Certification Holder has an obligation to adhere to basic values, ethical principles, and ethical standards set forth by LNI Institute, Inc. The Standards of Practice sets forth these values, principles, and standards to guide Certification Holders' conduct and quality of work. This Standards of Practice Declaration is relevant to all Certification Holders and students, regardless of their professional functions, the settings in which they work, or the clients to which they provide services.

Standards of Practice Principles

Certification Holders must meet or exceed the requirements listed herein in order for their certification to be valid.

1) The Roles of a certifed Legal Nurse Associate (LNA), Advanced Legal Nurse Consultant, or Expert of Medical Legal Specialties include:

• Assist with obtaining medical records
• Identify, interpret and review medical records for merit
• Identify missing records
• Screen medical records for tampering
• Review hospital policies and procedures
• Define adherence to and deviations from the applicable Standards of Care
• Consult with health care providers
• Develop brief or comprehensive written reports
• Conduct medical and nursing literature searches
• Analyze and compare expert witness reports
• Attend depositions, trials, review panels, arbitrations, and mediation hearings
• Interview plaintiff and defense clients, witnesses and experts
• Identify factors that caused or contributed to the alleged damages/injuries
• Identify and locate expert witnesses
• Assist in exhibit preparations
• Prepare interrogatories
• Prepare a chronology of events or timeline for the case

2) Behavior

• The Certification Holder must act in a professional manner at all times and refrain from abusive and/or inappropriate language towards any client or colleague in their field of practice.
• The Certification Holder must act in a manor representative of their profession, training, education and certification while understanding that any acts, positive or negative, reflect not only on themselves but on those other professionals practicing in the same field.

3) Responsibilities to the Client

• Certification Holder must retain all non-public information obtained from Client as confidential and agrees not to release or disseminate, in any fashion nor via any medium, any such information unless Consultant Holder has obtained prior written authorization of Client.
• The Certification Holder must provide work in a manner which is consistent with skills and techniques taught in the corresponding Certification curriculum and must meet the quality standards of the Client.
• The Certification Holder must adhere to any contracts or agreements arranged between themselves and any client or associate related to their field of practice.

4) Responsibilities to Colleagues

• The Certification Holder must treat other colleagues with the same respect, fairness and courtesy that they would expect from any other colleague.
• The Certification Holder must adhere to any contracts, agreements, and/or fees arranged between themselves and any subcontracting professionals or consultants providing cases for subcontracting.

5) Certification Requirements

• The Certification Holder must clearly inform their clients and/or subcontractors of the governing body for their certification, LNI Institute, Inc., either verbally or in writing.

6) Complaints Against Certification Holders

• A complaint may be submitted by any client or colleague for any breach of the LNI Institute Standards of Practice.
• Each complaint will be investigated by the LNI Institute President or by an official appointed by the President.
• The Certification Holder may receive no more than three complaints from clients or colleagues. If three complaints are received, the Holder’s Certification(s) will be revoked.
• Upon revocation of the certification, the holder must remove any information related to the certification from their documentation and is required to cease and desist from using their certification(s) in their practice.
• If a Certification Holder has more than one Certification from LNI Institute and three valid complaints have been received, all Certifications governed by this Standards of Practice Declaration may be revoked.
• Any colleague to a Certification Holder is under the obligation to report any breaches or complaints if they are certified under this Standards of Practice Declaration.
• Complaints must be formally submitted to LNI Institute, Inc in writing and sent via mail, fax or email.

By utilizing the LNA, ALNC, or EMLS credential and certification, you agree to the policies and standards discussed herein.