Replenishing the wellspring

Dear AALNC Members,

We all wear many “hats” in our lives:  spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling, child, employee, volunteer, etc.  Our family, professional, and volunteer commitments often feel as though they compete for our limited time and deplete our wellspring of energy, leaving little opportunity for us to recharge and re-energize. 

However, taking time to replenish this well is essential, as it allows us to remember what’s important in our lives, remember why we do what we do, and renew our devotion to the activities and commitments that are close to our hearts.

I encourage you all, especially our many valued AALNC volunteers, to regularly devote time to unplug your devices and recharge yourselves.  Take a moment each day to focus on yourself, reflect on your many blessings, and recognize that satisfaction comes from within.  This perspective is summed up in the following quote, which is hung en route to a monastery in the beautiful country of Bhutan (pictured below):  “Happiness is not something readymade.  It comes from your own actions.”

How do you replenish your well?  In what ways do those activities impact your various commitments?

Warmly,

Julie Dickinson

President, AALNC

Julie.dickinson@aya.yale.edu

860-208-6670

The Past, Present, and Future

Dear AALNC Members,

Our great association is celebrating its 25^th anniversary this year!  Since its founding in 1989, AALNC has paved the way for the specialty practice of legal nurse consulting.  This is the result of over two and a half decades of continuous effort, strategy, and hard work by our association’s Board members, led by the past Presidents listed here. 

As Mary Sussex, AALNC’s Secretary/Treasurer, shared in her Treasurer’s Report in the September 2014 Member Update and as I shared in the membership renewal email sent today, this is an exciting time for AALNC!  The current Board of Directors is continually pursuing ways to add value to your membership and take the association and our specialty practice into the future.  We are revising and updating the foundational documents of our specialty practice; providing cutting-edge education to keep you up-to-date on relevant clinical, legal, and practice topics; seeking partnerships with legal associations to raise awareness about legal nurse consulting; exploring technology to provide association and specialty practice information and education to you in more accessible and user-friendly formats; and so much more!  All of these are aimed at giving you the tools and resources you need to serve the best interests of your clients.

The association’s future holds endless possibilities, and its path will be guided by those share their talents and give back.  The call for nominations for AALNC’s 2015-2016 Board of Directors and Nominations Committee is open, and I hope that you will consider getting involved.  Applications are due by 10/31/14, and more information can be found here.  This is a wonderful opportunity to shape the future of AALNC, impact our specialty practice, grow your leadership skills, and work alongside other dynamic, intelligent, and talented LNCs and staff while making lifelong friends.

In what way would you like to see AALNC grow, and how can you contribute to that vision?

Warmly,

Julie Dickinson

President, AALNC

Julie.dickinson@aya.yale.edu

860-208-6670

Legal nurse consultants at trial

Dear AALNC Members,

We, as legal nurse consultants, know the value we can bring to medical legal cases and claims.  Attorneys who have worked with skilled LNCs also recognize and appreciate us as crucial assets and vital members of the legal team.

Take, for example, the recent bellwether product liability trial involving Ethicon transvaginal tape obturator (TVT-O) system.  This case resulted in a $3.27M verdict!  AALNC Director-at-Large Debbie Pritts, an in-house, board-certified LNCC^© for Wexler Wallace LLP, was an integral member of plaintiff’s legal team in the courtroom.  Her contributions played a direct role in their favorable outcome.

Another example, on the defense side, is a recent dental malpractice trial in which I assisted my firm, Fontaine Alissi PC.  Plaintiff alleged that a routine dental procedure caused him to suffer the onset of trigeminal neuralgia and asked the jury to award nearly $3M.  A defendant’s verdict was returned after only a few hours of deliberation!

What recent success has one of your attorney-clients celebrated?  How did you add value and contribute to that favorable outcome?

Warmly,

Julie Dickinson

President, AALNC

Julie.dickinson@aya.yale.edu

860-208-6670

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AALNC & ALNCCB board meetings

Dear AALNC Members,

This past weekend, the AALNC Board of Directors and the ALNCCB (certification board) met in Chicago for their respective in-person board meetings.  Each board had an exciting and productive weekend full of thoughtful analysis, brainstorming, and strategic planning.

In addition to several exciting announcements that will be forthcoming in the next few weeks, we are thrilled with the initiatives we’ve planned for 2015, and we cannot wait to share those with you!!  These initiatives are aimed to further the association’s strategic goals, assist members to be successful in their practice, and continue positioning AALNC as the premiere association for legal nurse consultants.

Pictured below is the AALNC Board at the end of this energizing weekend!  Please see http://www.aalnc.org/?page=BoardofDirectors and http://www.aalnc.org/page/ALNCCCertBoard/

for more information about the AALNC and ALNCCB boards.

What recent AALNC program/initiative have you been most excited about and how has it assisted you in your practice?  I’m interested in your comments, so please share your thoughts!

Warmly,

Julie Dickinson

President, AALNC

Julie.dickinson@aya.yale.edu

860-208-6670

News and Initiatives

Dear AALNC Members,

I spoke at the Denver Forum of how our association is indebted to the countless volunteers who have made AALNC what it is today.  It is through the hard work of such dedicated individuals that I can share with you the following exciting news and initiatives:

1.  AALNC’s Code of Ethics and Conduct with Interpretive Discussion was updated this year.  At least every three to five years, such documents put forth by AALNC need to be reviewed and, if necessary, revised to ensure they remain current for the specialty practice.   See the announcement on AALNC’s homepage for a link to the revised AALNC Code of Ethics.

2.  As part of the AALNC Board of Director’s ongoing effort to support local chapters, a new Chapter Leader Discussion Forum was created on the AALNC website.  This new resource offers a way for chapter leaders to communicate directly with each other to share experiences, pose questions, explore ideas, etc.  Chapter leaders: to access this forum, sign in to the AALNC website and select “Groups” under “My Profile.”

3.  The “Ask an LNC” column on the AALNC website is a new member benefit designed to answer frequently asked questions about working in the legal arena, the management of medical-legal tort claims, and/or the specialty practice of legal nurse consulting.  This resource is not only valuable for newer LNCs but also for experienced LNCs who have questions about a different practice setting, etc.  To view this column, click “Ask an LNC” from the menu bar on the left of AALNC’s website.  New questions and answers are being added regularly, so check back frequently!  To pose a question, email info@aalnc.org.  Answers are provided by an experienced, board-certified LNCC. 

Warmly,

Julie Dickinson

President, AALNC

Julie.dickinson@aya.yale.edu

860-208-6670