Undoubtedly, review of medical records is an almost daily, if not hourly, task for paralegals involved in the area of personal injury. The emergency room records of an injured party convey not only injuries and treatment, but may also reach much deeper into the background and circumstances surrounding an incident or accident. The comprehensive review of emergency room records by paralegals may influence later case management by the legal team. While navigation of the terminology of emergency room records can certainly be time-consuming, the knowledge gathered by paralegals will certainly benefit the legal team while litigating or defending a case. Below is a list of helpful tips to assist paralegals in the review of emergency room records.

• Identity/date of service: The emergency room registration form contains identifying information regarding the client/patient, including name, address, date of birth and employer. Paralegals should confirm that the emergency room registration form corresponds to the proper individual. For example, common names such as “John Smith” or “Mary Jones” may require a second look to verify that the date of birth does in fact match the identity of the injured party. Similarly, cross-reference the date of service. These additional steps afford the legal team time savings and serve to avoid compiling of improper information in the file.

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