What a timely blog! I have realized that each CLNC^® consultant is an individual and it is perfectly acceptable to have aspirations for my CLNC^® business that are different from others. Vickie has been great about teaching us that there is a special niche that suits each individual. For the current time I have decided to focus my niche on CLNC^® subcontracting. My goal is to be the name that comes to mind when you realize you need subcontracting help. My recent experience as director of performance improvement and 25 years of nursing in various healthcare settings provides me with the expertise to efficiently and accurately review a record for issues regarding standards of care as well as regulatory and quality concerns. I also enjoy sorting through details and putting together the pieces of a healthcare puzzle. So, for all of you reading this blog and thinking, “Vickie’s right, I could take on that case if I used CLNC^® subcontractors.” Here I am. I would be thrilled to send you my CV and a work product sample. We could even meet face to face at the NACLNC^® Conference in San Antonio next month. Working together, we meet the goals of two CLNC^® businesses – yours and mine. Thanks Vickie for providing the directory and “Vickie’s Blog” to connect with each other.

I look forward to subcontracting with other CLNC^® consultants in the near future. Thank you for this excellent article.

Interestingly, all of the cases I have worked on, over a dozen now, have not been in my area of expertise. I am in LTC. Because I have a broad knowledge base from working in rehab and sub-acute care, it is tempting to be overconfident when evaluating physiologic issues or disease processes. There were several cases where I felt confident enough in my knowledge to submit work products to the attorney without the assistance of a subcontractor.

However, I have subcontracted on every case I have done whether it was personal injury or med mal and have reaped the benefits. I have done this for several reasons:

1) Vickie recommends it.

2) The subcontractor will able to pick up on causation issues and standards of care more effectively. I worked on a gunshot wound case where the subcontractor was able to identify how the allegations were unrelated to causation issues. This subcontractor also identified the actual cause of death by comparing the injuries recorded in the autopsy report with the injuries recorded in the medical records. Wow! I was impressed. The attorney was extremely pleased because it was the medical examiner who told them that there was a delay in treatment, which is why the attorneys took it seriously.

3) This increases my credibility. The attorneys are impressed that I collaborate with nurses all over the US whose specialties are: Pediatric Anesthetist Specialist, ICU/ER (this subcontractor was a paramedic before becoming an RN), Certified OB RN specializing in Indian Health Services, or Ophthalmic RN specializing in retinopathy. This is just a few of the subcontractors that I have worked with.

I am now contracting office help. When I first started my CLNC^® business, many of the action steps were taken with a leap of faith. If you are just starting, follow the Institute principles if for no other reason than Vickie recommends it. As my business has grown, I now understand the “why’s” of many of the action steps that I implemented which has saved me from many pitfalls.

P. S. I will also add that all of the subcontractors that I have worked with are CLNC^® consultants. Vickie also recommends it.