Legal Nurse Consultant
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Cell: 724-766-2050
Email: emily.wolowski@yahoo.com
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
Registered Nurse with extensive experience in medical-legal case review, Independent Medical Evaluations (IME), quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and complex clinical analysis. Experience in evaluating medical records for accuracy, causation, standard of care, and defensibility in legal and insurance contexts. Strong background in acute care, post-acute rehabilitation, infection control, nursing leadership, and interdisciplinary coordination. Over 10 years of clinical experience including long term acre, post-acute rehabilitation, peri-anesthesia, and cardiovascular intensive care. Adept at translating complex medical findings into clear, legally relevant conclusions.
MEDICAL-LEGAL EXPERIENCE
Wolowski Legal Nurse Consulting LLC
Owner/Legal Nurse Consultant
February 2026 – Present
· Provide independent medical record review and analysis for personal injury, workers’ compensation, and long-term care litigation cases.
· Identify deviations from standards of care, regulatory compliance issues, and documentation gaps impacting liability and damages.
· Develop chronologies, medical summaries, and case timelines to clarify complex clinical events for legal teams.
· Analyze causation, mechanism of injury, and extent of damages, including future care needs and life expectancy considerations.
· Evaluate long-term care facility practices, including fall prevention, pressure injury management, medication administration, and staffing patterns.
· Assist attorneys with discovery preparation, interrogatories, deposition question development, and trial strategy support.
· Translate complex medical terminology and clinical concepts into clear, concise language for attorneys, juries, and mediation proceedings.
Prime Physicians Group
Physician Liaison / Report Quality Assurance
March 2025 – February 2026
Serve as primary medical-legal liaison between evaluating physicians, attorneys, insurance carriers, case managers, and internal operations staff
Conduct comprehensive quality assurance and review of Independent Medical Evaluation (IME) reports for:
Medical accuracy and internal consistency
Objective support of medical opinions
Compliance with jurisdiction-specific IME standards and evidentiary requirements
Medical-legal defensibility for litigation and claims review
Evaluate causation, apportionment, treatment necessity, impairment, and consistency between medical records and physician opinions
Identify deficiencies, inconsistencies, and risk exposure within IME reports and provide detailed corrective guidance to physicians
Ensure compliance with state-specific IME regulations, deadlines, and reporting standards
Monitor turnaround times and workflow metrics to meet contractual and legal deadlines
Collaborate with leadership to develop standardized QA protocols, templates, and best practices
Maintain strict confidentiality and compliance with HIPAA and medico-legal standards
CLINICAL & REGULATORY EXPERIENCE
Greentree Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation
ProMedica / Genesis Healthcare / PACS Healthcare
Registered Nurse – Post-Acute Rehabilitation
October 2024 – Present
Performed comprehensive patient assessments including functional capacity, cognition, mobility, and medical complexity
Documented objective clinical findings, progress, and treatment responses relevant to utilization review and legal review
Coordinated interdisciplinary care and discharge planning
Advocated for patients while maintaining accurate, defensible clinical documentation
Director of Nursing
May 2024 – October 2024
Directed all clinical operations at the facility level
Oversaw regulatory compliance with local, state, and federal standards
Led Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) initiatives
Supervised utilization management, discharge planning, and quality measures
Developed and implemented policies and procedures to mitigate clinical and regulatory risk
Assistant Director of Nursing
January 2024 – May 2024
Conducted audits, data analysis, and quality improvement initiatives
Assisted with policy development, staff supervision, and regulatory compliance
Ensured adherence to standards of care and evidence-based nursing practices
Infection Preventionist / Clinical Nurse Educator
May 2022 – January 2024
Managed facility-wide Infection Control and Prevention Program
Conducted surveillance, outbreak management, and regulatory reporting
Oversaw employee health programs and immunization compliance
Developed and delivered education based on identified quality and compliance risks
Supported Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement initiatives
ACUTE CARE & CRITICAL CARE EXPERIENCE
West Penn Hospital – Allegheny Health Network
Assistant Nurse Manager/Clinical Coordinator – Ambulatory Surgery & PACU
July 2020 – May 2022
Managed over 55 specialty staff across ambulatory surgery and PACU
Coordinated patient flow from pre-operative admission through discharge
Ensured compliance with Joint Commission and Department of Health standards
Oversaw audits including hand hygiene and controlled substance use
Managed staffing, scheduling, onboarding, disciplinary actions, and payroll
Coordinated perioperative throughput and staffing coverage
Maintained regulatory compliance and safety standards
COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit Nurse – Volunteer Assignment
March 2020 – May 2020
Volunteered for assignment to a newly established COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit during the initial phase of the pandemic
Selected to staff, often in a charge nurse role, a high-acuity ICU caring for critically ill COVID-19 patients amid evolving clinical standards and resource constraints
Contributed to the development and implementation of clinical workflows for the management of severe COVID-19 illness
Helped establish and enforce strict infection prevention and control practices, including PPE utilization, isolation protocols, and exposure mitigation
Managed complex critical care patients requiring advanced respiratory support, invasive monitoring, and continuous hemodynamic management
Collaborated closely with intensivists, respiratory therapy, pharmacy, and nursing leadership in a crisis-care environment
Maintained accurate, timely, and legally defensible clinical documentation under high-pressure conditions
Registered Nurse – Post Anesthesia Care Unit
May 2018 – July 2020
Provided post-anesthesia care for adult and pediatric patients
Managed airways, invasive lines, pain control, and discharge readiness
Communicated closely with surgeons, anesthesiologists, and CRNAs
UPMC Mercy – Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit
February 2016 – July 2018
Provided critical care for complex medical and surgical ICU patients
Managed ventilators, invasive monitoring, vasoactive infusions, and emergencies
Participated in code responses and end-of-life care
Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-acuity care
EDUCATION
· Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Ohio University – Athens, Ohio | May 2018
· Nursing Diploma
UPMC Mercy School of Nursing – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | December 2015
LICENSURE & CERTIFICATIONS
Registered Nurse – Pennsylvania Board of Nursing
Basic Life Support (BLS) – American Heart Association
CDC TRAIN Course Certificate – Infection Prevention in Long Term Care
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) – American Heart Association
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) – American Heart Association
COUNCILS & CLINICAL INITIATIVES
Quality Improvement Council
West Penn Hospital – Allegheny Health Network
Member | 2019 – 2020
Participated in multidisciplinary quality improvement initiatives focused on patient safety, regulatory compliance, and clinical outcomes
Reviewed quality metrics, adverse events, and process gaps to support system-wide performance improvement
Contributed to development and evaluation of evidence-based practice changes and policy recommendations
Supported data-driven decision-making aligned with Joint Commission and Department of Health standards
Peri-Anesthesia Pediatric Care Team
West Penn Hospital – Allegheny Health Network
2018-2022
Active participant in development and implementation of specialized peri-anesthesia workflows for pediatric patients
Contributed to standardization of pediatric recovery protocols to improve safety, pain control, and patient/family experience
Supported interdisciplinary collaboration among anesthesia, nursing, and surgical teams
Enhanced consistency and quality of pediatric peri-anesthesia care delivery
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Peri-Anesthesia Clinical Process Improvement
West Penn Hospital – Allegheny Health Network
2018-2022
Participated in process improvement initiative addressing peri-anesthesia care for patients with known or suspected PTSD
Assisted in development of trauma-informed peri-anesthesia protocols to reduce psychological distress and adverse reactions
Supported and initiated staff education regarding PTSD awareness, de-escalation techniques, and individualized care planning
Contributed to risk reduction strategies aimed at improving patient safety and perioperative outcomes