How to Manage Numerous Legal Nurse Consultant Jobs Simultaneously

There’s a system to managing numerous legal nurse consultant jobs simultaneously. Use the strategies recommended in this blog to manage your cases with finesse.

1. Communicate regarding priorities, deadlines and project status. Ask the attorney if there is anything going on with the case that makes the assignment time sensitive. Sometimes, there is an upcoming deposition or trial that requires quick turnaround. Other times, the attorney is hiring you at the beginning of the case and has flexibility on deadlines.

   Set realistic expectations. Be honest with yourself and your attorney-clients regarding what you can accomplish within a given timeframe. Inform the attorney you have other priorities ahead of the new assignment. If the attorney wants to retain you, generally they are willing to be flexible about the deadline or adjust expectations for the urgent work product. Susan Thibeault, DNAP, APRN, CRNA, EMT-P, CLNC shares, “I have received as many as four cases from a single attorney at once. The attorneys are usually not in a hurry on some cases, while they have more deadlines on others. I have found that if I simply ask, the attorneys work with me on prioritizing which cases they would like reviewed first. They appreciate this consideration and attention to detail.”

   Ask if depositions, mediation, arbitration or a trial date has been assigned. This helps you to prioritize assignments. It also allows you to provide an approximate turnaround time for completion if the attorney doesn’t have a specific deadline.

   Establish regular (e.g., weekly) communication with the attorney. Regular communication ensures that everyone is on the same page and that any changes in case priorities or new developments are communicated promptly. As you’re reviewing the case, communicate if you recognize you will be unable to meet the agreed upon deadline and why.

2. Stay organized. Susan Thibeault states, “Getting organized requires an extra investment of time before I even start analyzing a case, but the time I spend upfront saves me a significant amount of time as the case progresses. The first thing I do when I receive a case is create a folder and name it with the attorney-client’s name and case name. Within that folder, I create a subfolder for administrative items, such as the attorney agreement, a spreadsheet of hours worked and invoices. Once I begin working on the case, I create a folder that contains only the files provided by the attorney-client. Additionally, I create another file for research related to the case topics which can be easily referenced for future cases with similar issues. Staying organized has proven to be invaluable when managing multiple cases simultaneously.”
3. Invest the time and effort into learning. For example, use the software (e.g., Microsoft Word) to organize, create a table of contents and take notes on pdf files. As you review medical records and draft reports, these tools are useful.
4. Utilize project management tools (e.g., Microsoft Project) to create timelines, set deadlines, assign tasks and track progress. Susan Thibeault maintains a spreadsheet of all active cases. She shares, “On the spreadsheet, I record the date I was retained, due dates and details of assignments and notes on the volume of records. I note the estimated time required for the original assignment and then multiply that by 1.5 to allow myself extra time for additional research or to include an extra item for the attorney, such as discovery questions or demonstrative evidence ideas. This master spreadsheet provides an overview of all due dates and the time required for each case. By considering the time required for each case and their respective due dates, I am able to prioritize my time effectively, ensuring I do not miss deadlines and can devote the appropriate amount of time to each case.”
5. Select the CLNC® subcontractor best qualified to assist with the case. As Suzanne Arragg, RN, BSN, CDONA/LTC, CLNC suggests, “To manage numerous cases simultaneously, having a strong team of CLNC subcontractors is essential.”
6. Develop templates. Create your own templates and use the templates provided by LegalNurse.com for screening cases, reports, invoices, etc. Templates create efficiency and ensure consistency in quality of work product.

Thanks to Suzanne Arragg and Susan Thibeault for sharing strategies for managing numerous legal nurse consultant jobs simultaneously.

Success Is Yours,

P.S. Comment and share your strategies for managing numerous legal nurse consultant jobs simultaneously.