Episode 115 The Legal Side of WOC Care: Nursing Documentation Insights


On this episode of WOCTalk, we talk with Heidi Cross, MSN, RN, FNP, CWON, and Mario C. Giannettino, a partner at Kaufman Borgeest & Ryan, LLP. Heidi brings extensive experience in acute care, long-term care, and home care, along with expertise as a legal nurse consultant and expert witness for defense and plaintiff attorneys. Mario specializes in Medical Malpractice, Nursing Home and Long-Term Care, and General Litigation. Together, we explore the critical topic of nursing documentation and how to enhance clinical records to prevent legal issues in wound, ostomy, and continence (WOC) care.

This podcast is for informational purposes only and shouldn’t be considered legal, health, or professional advice. Neither the WOCN® Society nor the speakers or their affiliates or employers are responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. This podcast is not intended to replace professional medical or legal advice, and the views expressed may not be those of the host or the management. This podcast is not intended to, nor does it form the basis of any attorney-client relationships.

Episode Resources:
Click here to view the article Skin failure: A historical perspective published in the American Nurse Journal.
Click here to view the article Skin Failure: An Emerging Concept published in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association (JAMDA)
Click here to view the article Skin Fails Too: Acute, Chronic, and End-Stage Skin Failure published in Advances in Skin & Wound Care

About the Speakers:
Mario C. Giannettino is a partner in the law office of Kaufman Borgeest & Ryan, LLP in the firm’s Medical Malpractice, Nursing Home and Long Care and General Litigation practice groups. Throughout his career, Mario has represented a wide range of healthcare professionals and providers, including residential healthcare and assisted living facilities, physicians, physician’s assistants, hospitals, and home healthcare agencies. In addition to defending suit from inception and through discovery, Mario also serves as a trial attorney. In addition to his litigation experience, Mario provides a broad spectrum of services to healthcare clients, including staff training, in-servicing, counseling on risk assessment issues, and assisting them in navigating privacy and security issues under both HIPAA and the HITECH Act.

Mario regularly publishes and speaks nationally on matters relating to all aspects of healthcare defense. During his career, he has been a featured author in The Risk Management Quarterly, McKnight’s and various other publications. Mario frequently speaks nationally at healthcare events and workshops and has presented on issues such as the impact of artificial intelligence on healthcare, the CMS Five-Star Rating System, the proliferation of arbitration agreements in healthcare and many other topical concerns. In addition to being licensed to practice law in both New York State and Connecticut, Mario serves as supervisory/monitoring counsel for residential health care facilities nationwide.

Heidi Cross is a certified Wound and Ostomy Nurse, as well as a nurse practitioner from the Syracuse NY area. She has worked in acute care and is a wound consultant for long term care facilities, currently working for the University of Rochester Strong Memorial Hospital and CNY Physicians of Central New York. She has been published in multiple wound and ostomy journals and is a member of the WOCN® Society and the American Association of Wound Care, among other organizations. She has extensively reviewed legal cases related to wound care for both defense as well as plaintiff attorneys and comes with a wealth of experience and information related to litigation and wound care.