About Medical Record Reviews:
What is a Medical Record Review?
A family may have questions about the passing of a loved one and the medical treatment that he or she received. In particular, the family may wish to know if the medical provider contributed to their passing as a result of negligence, omissions, or errors. A medical record review can provide the answers that the family needs and is often the step taken before pursuing legal action. Doctors, hospitals, and insurance companies may also request a medical record review to explore the facts of a deceased patient’s case and to defend against liability. A thorough analysis of general treatment and general can provide important insights in advance of or in response to litigation. Dr. Satish Chundru offers information and answers to families, medical practitioners, hospitals, and insurers. His evaluations of medical records and subsequent opinions regarding whether general treatment and care directly involved the cause of death are based on years of training and experience as a forensic pathologist.
Following his review, Dr. Chundru can provide additional support as an expert witness should litigation become necessary. His services are available nationwide through conference calls and in Central Texas through in-person appearances.
What We Do
Dr. Chundru’s medical record review services are strictly an examination of the general treatments and general care a person receives before they pass away. He only examines the records of the deceased and how treatments and care directly involve the cause of death.
The purpose of a postmortem medical record review is to confirm whether the healthcare facility that had been treating the deceased before their passing had followed all generally reasonable standards of care that any doctor in any field could assess. Dr. Chundru’s opinions based on the medical record review are strictly based on the facts presented in those records and known general standards for patient health care. The opinions are intended to be an unbiased evaluation of the events and whether or not they follow those understood standards without any additional bias or speculation attached.
What We Do Not Do
As a forensic pathologist providing strictly postmortem medical record reviews, Dr. Chundru can only answer questions related to deceased patients. Dr. Chundru does not review the medical records of living patients. He also does not provide speculative or accusatory opinions about the general quality of medical care the deceased received or what the healthcare provider “did wrong.” Opinions formed during a medical record review are strictly based on whether all reasonable steps to caring for the patient were followed, not whether the care was the most optimal option available to the deceased.
What is The Purpose of a Medical Record Review?
A medical record review is most often used by family members who want answers after the death of a loved one if they:
1) believe the death was directly related to the medical treatment their loved one received.
2) believe the death was the result of the negligence of the doctor or facility.
3) believe the death was caused by an error on the part of medical staff, or
4) believe the doctor or hospital is omitting information surrounding the death of a loved one. An outside medical record review is often the first step that families take before pursuing legal action.
Note that medical record review is primarily for dealing with issues involving the deceased; for living patients, Dr. Chundru offers only injury evaluation as a service. Medical records reviews are also reliant on an understanding of general reasonable standards of care that any doctor in any field could assess.
Dr. Chundru may be able to provide answers to families’ questions depending on the facts of the case and science-based knowledge. His services include the thorough review of medical records, which can not only provide families with greater insight but may also have a bearing on legal matters. Here is a full list of all the services available:
- Building medical chronologies
- Assess the severity of the injury
- Determine case merit
- Screen cases for merit
- Address the necessity and appropriateness of case, causality, and relatedness
- Identifying factors that cause alleged damages or injuries
Choosing to Perform a Medical Record Review
Families concerned about the treatment that their loved one received may have challenges getting answers from medical providers:
- There may be a clear and reasonable explanation for the general treatment, but the provider may be unwilling or unable to share it.
- The family may suspect negligence, omissions, or errors in the general care of their loved one but not have the training to identify these issues.
- A family may be considering legal action and may benefit from the opinion of a medical professional before investing time and money in its pursuit.
Healthcare providers may benefit from a medical record review for different reasons. For example, a knowledgeable third party can provide an unbiased audit of an opinion on the data. Reporting can help providers defend their decisions, see where lapses may have occurred, and understand areas in which they may face liability.
What Kind of Experience Does Dr. Chundru Have?
Dr. Chundru is a board-certified forensic pathologist – one of only about 600 in the United States. He has provided forensic pathology services to clients for 20 years, has performed over 8,500 autopsies, and has reviewed thousands of cases.
What Clients Can Expect with a Medical Record Review
Dr. Chundru will perform a medical record review to address the specific questions and concerns his clients have. He has nearly 20 years of experience in the field, is one of only about 600 Board Certified Forensic Pathologists in the United States, and has reviewed thousands of cases over the course of his career.
Clients will typically begin with a telephone call to discuss their needs. During this conversation, Dr. Chundru will learn about the case, talk about the client’s goals, and discuss his work. He will also help the client understand what is and isn’t possible with a medical record review to ensure that his services are a fit.
Once a client decides to move forward, Dr. Chundru will analyze all of the relevant resources related to the patient and medical provider. This may include:
- Medical records.
- Facility records.
- Communications between the family and the facility.
- Internal communications.
Dr. Chundru will follow a comprehensive approach so as to identify details that may otherwise go undetected. Generally, he can provide a report from his medical record review within two weeks, depending on the client’s needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
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I do not have a medical background. Will I understand the report?
Dr. Chundru will offer his opinion in a manner that a layperson can read and understand it.
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Will Dr. Chundru answer questions about the report he provides?
After the client has had time to go over Dr. Chundru’s report, he will be available to answer follow-up questions and to continue providing specialized guidance.
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What common steps do families take after they receive the report from Dr. Chundru?
The family may choose to pursue legal action if the report demonstrates potential negligence, omissions, or errors. Clients can engage Dr. Chundru’s services as an expert witness in support of their case.
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Can Dr. Chundru provide a medical record review for a hospital, medical facility, insurance company, or doctor?
Yes. These entities may request a medical record review by Dr. Chundru to explore the facts of a patient’s case and to defend against liability. He can help providers defend their decisions, see where lapses may have occurred, and understand areas in which they may face liability. His thorough analysis of a patient’s medical records can provide important insights in advance of or in response to litigation.
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After Dr. Chundru provides a medical record review of my loved one, can he become an expert witness in a court case?
Yes. Dr. Chundru offers his clients an array of services, including serving as a forensic pathologist expert witness in a court case involving serious injury or death of a loved one.
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I’ve requested answers and explanation from my loved one’s doctors about their treatment and care, but the doctors are unwilling to provide them. Can a medical review by Dr. Chundru help?
Yes. Dr. Chundru can help after you grant him access to your family member’s medical records. He can then review them, look for discrepancies or errors, and clearly communicate to you what he finds.
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What kind of data will Dr. Chundru need in order to complete a thorough medical review of my loved one’s case?
Once you enlist the help of Dr. Chundru, he will need access to your loved one’s medical records, records from the facility at which the patient was treated, communications between the family and the facility, and internal communications.
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How quickly will Dr. Chundru be able to provide his findings after he performs a medical record review?
Dr. Chundru uses scientific facts and a precise methodology when conducting a medical record review. However, he doesn’t like to leave his clients in limbo. It is also important to know the length of time depends on the number of documents that are required to review. Dr. Chundru will talk with the client and determine when they need the information. He can accommodate most timelines depending on the amount of material and the need for an expedited review.
If you have questions about the quality of medical treatment that a loved one received, or if you are a medical provider and are facing potential legal action related to your work, learn more about Dr. Chundru’s medical record review service. Get in touch online or by calling (512) 240-1060.