When you contract with us, you’re not choosing a nurse instead of a physician—you’re strategically combining the unique strengths of both disciplines to create a comprehensive, effective approach to your case(s).

By contracting with Patton & Associates legal nurse consultants (specializing in surgery malpractice claims), you:

• Better utilize your staffs’ time.

• Reduce your firm’s expenses on excessive physician-billed hours.

• Expand your angles of attack by identifying multiple defendants & increase profits during settlement or trial.

Patton & Associates has you covered! Through our extensive network of testifying experts, we can identify the specialties most valuable to your case, locate them, & connect them to you for approval.

As part of our consulting role, we also analyze and compare expert witness reports with prior testimony to help refine and strengthen your strategy.

Just because we are nurses does not mean we’re limited—our expertise ultimately increases your profits. That is why our motto remains: “We are your secret weapon.”

A CLNC® (Certified Legal Nurse Consultant®) is a nationally recognized certification for RN’s who use their expertise as a healthcare professional to consult on any medical-related cases.

They can have clinical experience in any field of healthcare… not just surgery.

From case screening to trial preparation, they are knowledgable through every stage of litigation. CLNC®s bridge the gap between healthcare and the legal system by providing services during the entire litgation process.

What is a CNOR?
A CNOR (Certified Perioperative Nurse) is an RN who has earned a nationally recognized certification demonstrating expert knowledge in PeriOperative practice.

(What does “PeriOperative” mean?) PeriOperative is defined as “all areas of surgical care—Pre-Op, Operating Room (OR) , and Recovery Room/ Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). ”

CNOR certification is not limited to nurses who work only inside the operating room; it is awarded to any perioperative nurse who meets the eligibility requirements and passes the rigorous national exam.

What is an RNFA?
A Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) is an RN who has not only passed the CNOR exam, but has expertise specialized in Surgery.

RNFA’s have completed advanced education and training after nursing school (in surgical skills) to directly assist surgeons during operations. As the surgeon’s “First Assist,” the RNFA provides hands-on support such as making incisions, handling tissue, suturing, controlling bleeding, and ensuring optimal surgical exposure.

RNFA’s are nationally certified and qualified to perform specific surgical tasks, even when the surgeon steps away from the operating room.

Together, these three nationally recognized nursing certifications (RNFA, CNOR, CLNC®), provide unmatched insight to ANY SURGERY malpractice or negligence case, because they are specific to RN’s that have surgical expertise, legal knowledge, and an understanding of the entire PeriOperative process.

For example: We are able to analyze the roles & standards of care for: Every professional job role that participated or contributed to your client’s surgery such as:

• First Assists:

  • Additional surgeons asked to be involved “or assist” in the surgery (the assisting surgeon may be of the same or different specialty from the primary surgeon)

  • Registered Nurse First Assists (RNFA’s)

  • Physician Assistants (PA’s)

  • Nurse Practitioners (NP’s)

  • Medical Fellows

  • Medical Residents

  • Medical Students

  • and (unfortunately) un-licensed, un-certified personnel (surgical technicians, patient transporters, sterile processing technicians, office staff, etc), who perform outside their “scope of practice” when there are staffing shortages.

• Anesthesia Providers: Staff or Contracted:

  • MD Anesthesiologists

  • Certified Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA’s)

• Operating Room (OR) nurses: aka: “OR Circulators”

  • Nursing Students

• Surgical Technicians: non-licensed, trade school personnel skilled to pass surgery instrumentation in a sterile fashion to the surgeon, and the First Assist.

• Sterile Processing Technicians

• Surgery (OR) Materials Management Staff

• Surgery X-Ray Technicians

• Medical device representatives &/or engineers

• Administrative Managers/Directors

• Perfusionists (Cardiovascular Surgery)

• All other facility ancillary staff: That participates with anything to do with surgery, including: Maintenance Personnel, Traveling/Agency Staff, Patient Transporters, etc.

  ……AND…...

• Every involved department—Pre-Op, Surgery (OR), PACU, Sterile Processing, Infection Control, Materials Management, Education, Quality Assurance, Human Resources, Credentialing, Housekeeping, etc.

Since our 3 nursing specialty certifications (RNFA, CNOR, and CLNC®) are recognized nationally, Patton & Associates provides all legal consulting services in all 50 states.

Absolutely! We provide support throughout the entire litigation process, from filing the petition/complaint… all the way to preparing for trial.

We specialize in outpatient and hospital medical malpractice, injury, and wrongful death cases that involve any aspect of surgery (including medical devices), providing expert insight and support throughout the litigation process.

In addition to hospital surgery cases, we also specialize in outpatient surgery (often referred to as Ambulatory Surgery Centers or “ASC’s”) and Pain Procedure Clinics.

While we review and consult on cases involving death in the operating room, immediately after, or even long after surgery, Patton & Associates also evaluates any case involving any surgical or procedural incident—whether at an inpatient or outpatient setting.

Most of our services are charged on an hourly basis; however, locating a testifying expert (TE) is a flat rate.

Depending on the case, your budget, and the services requested, a retainer may be required up front (similar to that of a law firm).

When all terms have been agreed upon, we will forward a contract for your approval.

To get started, please submit an online request through our “Contact Us” link and we will promptly reply within 48 hours.