Susan Wirt Qualification Profile

Wirt and Associates, LLC 540-***-**** (voice)

Post Office Box 8-540-***-**** (fax)

Catawba, VA 24070 abpjyq@r.postjobfree.com

www.wirtandassociates.com

SUMMARY OF EXPERIENCE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Ten and one-half years as owner and primary case manager/life care planner for Wirt &

Associates, LLC; providing comprehensive physical and psychosocial assessments, as

well as problem identification in liability (auto, general, malpractice), worker s

compensation, catastrophic, long-term care and high-dollar group health cases. Provide

medical-legal consultative services to attorneys (plaintiff and defense) in matters of

personal injury and select criminal cases to assist with defining injuries, causation,

medical research and literature reviews, establishment of damages, and identification of

appropriate experts. Developed and implemented light-duty, return-to-work program for

The Homestead Resort, Hot Springs, Virginia.

Appointed Commissioner for Legal Nurse Consulting, Commission on Health Care

Certification, to act as a liaison, educate qualified practitioners and promote the life care

planning certification process.

Elected to the Board of Directors, Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN) for

Region 2 (New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Washington, DC,

West Virginia and Virginia). Charged to govern, make policy, and establish goals for

ARN s membership and the specialty practice of rehabilitation nursing (term includes

2003-2005)

Twenty-seven months experience as Marketing Coordinator of Rehabilitation Services

for Lewis-Gale Hospital. Responsibilities included patient assessment for out-of-house

referrals, as well as coordination of all marketing activities for the four divisions of the

rehabilitation services - inpatient rehabilitation center, therapy services, sports and

industrial medicine, and pain management center.

Seven years of case management experience with Resource Opportunities Inc. providing

assessments and problem identification in liability (auto, general, malpractice) FELA,

worker's compensation, LTD, catastrophic and high-dollar group health cases.

Four years supervision of the professional case management staff of the Roanoke and

southwest Virginia ROI offices. Involved in the screening/hiring of new applicants and

orientation and training. Developed and coordinated multiple staff education programs.

Exclusive Virginia and Maryland Resource Opportunities Inc. provider for expert

opinions addressing the impact of handicapping conditions and resultant damages

including the development of Life Care Plans and consultations with the associated

parties regarding settlement and legal proceedings.

Susan Wirt Qualification Profile

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SUMMARY OF EXPERIENCE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS (cont d)

Led the development of "Research & Review" services and became the primary provider

and marketer of this service to ROI liability customers. Also assisted in the development

and implementation of a specific liability training program for all ROI nurses in the

Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina areas.

Served as educational program coordinator for insurance carriers and related industries,

providing ongoing updates with regard to new diagnostic and treatment techniques as

well as coordinating quarterly educational symposiums and presenting formal programs

as requested.

Selected for inclusion in Who s Who in American Nursing, 6th edition, and 1996/1997,

for outstanding achievements in the field for rehabilitation nursing.

First recipient of President s Initiative Award, Virginia Association of Rehabilitation

Nurses, recognizing work as an outstanding rehabilitation nurse and case manager, and

exceptional leader and role model, presented May 2001

PRESENTATIONS

2005, 2004, 2003, & 2002

The Role of the Nurse & Case Manager in Rehabilitation of the Spinal Cord Injured

Patient, Sr.Nursing Students, Jefferson College of Health Sciences, Roanoke,

VA

2004

Life Care Planning: What can it do for you and your patient? Brain Injury

Association of Southwest Virginia 3rd Annual Conference, Roanoke, VA

Medicare Set-Asides a brief overview Roanoke Claims Association, Roanoke, VA

2001

Life Care Planning 101, 2001- A Rehab Odyssey 12th Annual IARP/VARN

Conference, Charlottesville, VA

The Role of the Nurse & Case Manager in Rehabilitation of the Spinal Cord Injured

Patient, Senior Nursing Students, College of Health Sciences, Roanoke, VA

The Role of the Independent Rehab Nurse/Case Manager in Catastrophically Injured

Clients, Greater NC Chapter of Association of Rehab Nurses, Fayetteville, NC

2000

Coming Home The Role of the External Case Manager with the SCI client/patient,

Virginia Commonwealth University-Medical College of Virginia Rehabilitation

and Research Center s 9th Annual SCI Symposium, Richmond, VA

Analyzing Medical Records for the Virginia Paralegal, Institute for Paralegal

Education, Roanoke, VA

The Role of the Case Manager, Thomas Rutherfoord Companies, Charlottesville, VA

Life Care Planning a Basic Overview, RT Career Education, Philadelphia, PA

The Role of the Nurse in Rehabilitation of the Spinal Cord Injured Patient, Senior

Nursing Students, College of Health Sciences, Roanoke, VA

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PRESENTATIONS (cont.)

2000

HMOs, PPOs, PHOs, ETC - The ABCs of Managed Care, RT Career Education,

Biloxi, MS

1999

Independent Living Services, Vocational Rehabilitation & Counseling Department,

Veteran Affairs, Roanoke, VA

Life Care Planning a Basic Overview, RT Career Education, Washington, DC

1998

Early intervention of the Medical Rehabilitation Specialist-How to effectively use a

rehabilitation specialist to monitor medical and placement issues, Strategies for

Effective Management of Employee Health and Safety Issues, Lorman Education

Series, Roanoke, VA

1997

Diversity in Case Management, Association of Rehabilitation Nurses 23rd Annual

Educational Conference-Celebrating Success In Rehabilitation, Baltimore, MD

Maximizing Rehabilitation Benefits in the Injured Worker

Salem/Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce, Roanoke, VA

HMOs, PPOs, PHOs, ETC - The ABCs of Managed Care

Virginia Association of Radiation Therapists, Charlottesville, VA

1996

Rehabilitation for the Oncology Patient

Virginia Association of Radiation Therapists, Wintergreen, VA

Rehabilitation Issues in the Multiple Trauma Patient, RT-Career Education, Cincinnati,

OH

Humor in Healthcare - How to keep yours and your patients, RT-Career Education,

Cincinnati, OH

1995

Rehabilitation Issues in the Multiple Trauma Patient RT-Career Education,

Philadelphia, PA

1991

Back Injury Claims - A Clinical Perspective, Mid-Valley Claims Association,

Staunton, VA

1991

Psycho-Social Aspects of Worker's Compensation

Virginia Insurance Reciprocal; Roanoke, Manassas, and Richmond, VA

1990

Medical Overview for Assessing the Cardiac Claim & Issues in Acute Traumatic

Brain Injury, Allstate Insurance Co., Roanoke, VA

Traumatic Brain Injury Claims & Soft Tissue Injuries of the Cervical Spine

Nationwide Insurance Co., Lynchburg, VA

Current Concepts in the Diagnosis, Treatment and Prognosis of Cancer

H.L. Duke and Co., Richmond, VA

Case Management and other Medical Issues In Bodily Injury and Med-Pay Claims

State Farm Insurance Co., Inland Division Workshop, Pipestem, WV

Susan Wirt Qualification Profile

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1987-1988

Medical Case Management

Low Back Forum, Lynchburg, VA

Medical Issues in Worker's Compensation Claims, Allegheny Regional Hospital, Low

Moor, VA

PUBLICATIONS

Wirt, Susan, Latex Allergies, When Protection becomes the Problem, Journal of Legal

Nurse Consulting, January 2003

Wirt, Susan and McKinley, Linda, Medical Literature Research 2000: Part 2, Journal

of Legal Nurse Consulting, April 2000

Wirt, Susan, Minter, Gail, and Heil, John, "Healing Art: Incorporating Visual Arts in

the Healing Process", APS Bulletin, April/May 1994

CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

Adult Cardiac Critical Care & Cardiac Surgery RN from 1977 to 1985. Hospital

employers included Roanoke Memorial Hospitals, Roanoke, Virginia; Good

Samaritan Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio; and Baylor University Medical Center,

Dallas, Texas

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science in Nursing 2004, West Haven University, Daisy M. Granahan

School of Nursing, Cypress, CA

Associate of Applied Science in Nursing, 1977, Virginia Western Community College,

Roanoke, VA

LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS/ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIPS

RN - State of Virginia # 001066308

Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN)

Certified Rehabilitation Provider - State of Virginia - # 071*-****** (CRP)

Certified Case Manager # M013449 (CCM)

Certified Life Care Planner # 0279 (CLCP)

2003-2005 Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN) Region 2 Director

1995-1997 President of Virginia Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (VARN)

Executive Board Member for VARN 1993-2003

2004 Commission for Legal Nurse Consulting, Commission on Health Care

Certification (CHCC)

Member Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN)

Member International Academy of Life Care Planners (IALCP)

Member Case Management Society of America (CMSA)

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LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS/ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIPS (cont d)

Member Amputee Coalition of America

Member American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants (AALNC)

Member Brain Injury Association of Virginia

SPECIALIZED TRAINING

Numerous continuing education seminars and workshops including:

Life Care Planning (University of Florida and Rehabilitation Training Institute)

Module 1 Tenets and Methodology of Life Care Planning

Module 2 Psychological Assessment Issues

Module 3 Multiple Disabilities

Module 4 Forensic Issues in Case Management & Life Care Planning

Module 5 Spinal Cord Injuries

Module 6 Acquired Brain Trauma and Pediatric Brain Injury

Module 7 Vocational Issues in Life Care Planning

Module 8 Practical Application of Life Care Planning

Medicare Set-Asides MediPro Seminars

NRH Spinal Cord Injury training program

MCV Post-Graduate course on rehabilitation of the brain injured adult and child

Recent advances in care and treatment of spinal cord injuries

Sexuality issues in the head injured and spinal cord injured patient

Accessing funding sources for the brain-injured patient in the private and public

sectors

Alternative settings for rehabilitative care

Understanding economic implications and life care planning for catastrophic injury

Pulmonary rehabilitation issues, long term care and placement

Traumatic hand injuries - Diagnosis, Treatment and Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation of Compartment Syndrome

Anatomy, physiology and radiographic testing of the spine

Approaches for treatment of failed back syndrome including dorsal column

implants and Steffee Fusion

Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy - Diagnosis, treatment, projecting long term outcomes

Etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of Arthritis and similar conditions

TMJ dysfunction; causation, treatment, and rehabilitation

Ethical issues and dilemmas in case management

Chronic pain syndromes, including Myofascial Pain Syndrome, Use of Narcotics in

the long-term care of Chronic pain, pain agreements vs. contracts

Post-traumatic stress disorder

Forensic Psychiatry

Chiropractic and Osteopathic treatment and standards of care

Expert witness testimony and preparation

Medical-legal consultation

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SPECIALIZED TRAINING (contd.)

Managed care issues, HMOs, PPOs, PHOs, etc.

Toxic exposure in the workplace

Progression of disability Short-term disability to Social Security disability

Attention deficit disorder (ADD) and hyperactivity in the Adult The distracted

worker

Ethical issues for the rehabilitation professional in patient care and insurance

reimbursement

Rehabilitation issues for patients/clients with facial injuries and reconstructive

interventions

Medical records confidentiality, HIPAA

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy: applications and use, outcomes and financial

considerations

Living with implantable medical devices: implications for home, work and leisure

time

Vertebroplasty: treatment for compression fractures and spinal tumors

Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) training

Life Expectancy What Economic Damage Experts and Medical Legal Consultants

need to know

Sleeplessness in America Diagnosing and treating Insomnia

Toxic Anger and the impact in workplace injuries

Middle-eastern cultural issues impacting rehabilitation and recovery from injury

Neuropsychological testing and it s application for improving case management

Diagnosis and treatment of injuries to the foot and ankle

Cumulative trauma disorders of the foot and ankle

Chronic wound care and treatments

Update on burn care, acute interventions, surgery and rehabilitation issues including

reconstructive surgery vs. anaplastology

Antibiotic resistant microorganisms concerns for the rehabilitation professional

Latex allergies a crisis in the medical community

Spasticity: appropriate diagnosis, benefits vs. drawbacks, and surgical vs. non-

surgical interventions

Improved IMEs and understanding the impairment ratings based on the American

Medical Association s Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, 5th

edition

Differential diagnosis: Brain injury vs. tumor, vs. CVA

What s new with diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of Multiple Sclerosis

Sleep disturbances including sleep apnea; diagnosis and treatment

Using the internet to extend the continuum of care for persons with catastrophic

injuries

Stroke patient education materials on the Internet

Legal issues in nursing practice and case management

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SPECIALIZED TRAINING (contd.)

Aging with SCI and the impact on care providers

Acquired brain injury; neuro-pathology, rehabilitation research and intervention

options, post traumatic headaches, and accessing information via the Internet

Suicide causes, clinical management, historical, descriptive and epidemiological

considerations

NSAIDs, Coxibs, and Cardio-Renal Physiology: A Mechanism-Based Evaluation

Symptomatic Treatment of Neuropathic Pain: A Focus on the Role of

Anticonvulsants

12th Annual Holiday Total Knee Course

Ethical and legal implications of chronic pain management

Writing for publication

Mediation the role in claim dispute and resolution

Dale Carnegie course

Alternative therapies in pain management Acupuncture, Chiropractic manipulation,

and Nutrition

Bariatric issues in rehabilitation and wound care

New Frontiers in the treatment of Depression

Neuraxial Analgesia by Intrathecal Drug Delivery for Chronic Noncancer Pain

Lifestyle and behavior modification in the management of obesity

Gender differences in response to analgesic opiods

Saline injections vs. Prolotherapy for Chronic low back pain

Gabapentin in the treatment of neuropathic pain following spinal cord injury

Active interventions for treatment of whiplash

News in the treatment of hot flashes

Understanding chronic pain and the mind-body connection

Medicare Set Aside Training

Bipolar disorder American Psychiatric Association 2004 Annual Meeting

Depression American Psychiatric Association 156 Annual Meeting

New Frontiers in the Treatment of Depression

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