Curriculum Vitae
Nursing School: Sisters of Charity Hospital, Buffalo, NY, 1965.
License: Registered Professional Nurse, New York State, 1965, RN State of Ohio, 1988-
2015.
Certification: Certified Gastroenterology Registered Nurse.
Additional Course Work: Ursuline College, Pepper Pike, Ohio, 1989.
Professional Education: Receive 20-30 CEU’s yearly from professional seminars.
Legal Nurse Consulting Practice, LLC 2000-present . Principal Consultant and owner.
Legal Nurse Systems, LLC 2004-present.
Legal Nurse Consulting services include:

Review Medical-Legal cases for Merit.

Determine the Completeness of the Medical Records.

Prepare the Medical Records in Chronological Order of the sequence of events leading to the injury, identifying proximal cause or determined that the Healthcare providers gave the appropriate Standard of Care. The Chronological Report includes an explanatory narrative and the supporting medical literature research.

Prepare Expert Chronologies without Review notes & References

Prepare a Summary of the findings.

Prepare Timelines

Prepare Graphics and Charts to demonstrate the findings

Prepare Deposition Questions

Prepare Glossaries

Tabulate the Medical Records in a notebook for Ease of Review.

Organize and Tab Medical Records

Expert Find & Communication with Experts

Served as an expert witness
Attorney References can be provided on Request.
10720 Arrow Lane, Chardon, Ohio 44024

440.285.7201

 440.343.0147

sharonmartino@legalnursesystems.com web: www.legalnursesystems.com

Gastroenterology Associates of Cleveland, Inc., Mayfield Heights, Ohio, July, 1990 to
October, 2002. Nurse Manager, Ambulatory Surgical Center.
MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, January 1989 to July 1990. RN,
Gastroenterology Department.
St. Joseph Intercommunity Hospital , Cheektowaga, NY, Nov. 1977 to December 1988
Worked in the Operating Room & Ambulatory Surgical Facility. Developed a GI unit for the hospital.
Children’s Hospital of Buffalo
, Nov. 1967 to Nov. 1977. RN Staff, worked every nursing unit including 4 years in the pediatric and open heart surgery ICU.
Columbus Hospital of Georgia, June 1967 to Nov. 1967. Charge nurse adult ICU.
Children’s Hospital of Buffalo,
June 1966 to June 1967. Staff nurse.
University of Chicago Hospitals, September 1965 to June 1967. Staff nurse, pediatrics.
Sisters of Charity Hospital, Buffalo, NY, June 1965 to September 1965. Staff nurse
In my 36 years in the nursing profession I have spent 25 years in the hospital setting 12 years managing an Ambulatory Surgical Center. Early in my career I worked in pediatric
ICU and Open-Heart, then adult nursing.
Expertise:

Surgery.

Recovery Room.

Internal Medicine, including patient assessment of disease process & treatment.

GI Endoscopy.

Administration, including development of policy & procedure, staff training, risk management, medical records management, continuous quality improvement, peer review, compliance with HFCA (Health Care Financing Administration),
Medicare, Ohio State Board of Health and AAAHC (Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care).

Standards for Practice, including writing standards for my professional society and reviewing standard compliance within the practice setting.
10720 Arrow Lane, Chardon, Ohio 44024

440.285.7201

 440.343.0147

sharonmartino@legalnursesystems.com web: www.legalnursesystems.com

Developed and managed an Ambulatory Surgical Center serving 6 physicians at the Hillcrest Medical Building having 2 procedure rooms and 7 recovery beds.
The center opened in the fall of 1990.
Accreditation

Achieved and maintained Medicare licensure since January 1991.

Received and maintained accreditation from Ambulatory Accreditation Agency for
Health Care (AAAHC). Met all of the standards for the ASC and the physician’s medical office including:
Rights of Patients
Governance
Professional Improvement
Facilities and Environment
Administration
Quality of Care Provided
Anesthesia Services
Surgical Services
Quality Management and Improvement Pharmaceutical Services
Clinical Records
Medical Records for the ASC [Ambulatory Surgical Center].

Designed the medical records used for the ASC, including forms and assuring that the medical record is complete.

Assured that the physicians obtain the informed consent according to the laws in the
State of Ohio.
 Designed a mechanism to record the patient’s status on Advanced Directives according to the laws in the State of Ohio.
 Maintained confidentiality and security of the patient’s medical records.
Risk Management Program for the ASC and Medical Offices.

Collaboration with an endoscopy physician to review appropriate indications for procedures according to the guidelines set forth by ASGE (American Society of
Gastrointestinal Endoscopy). Inappropriate use of procedures is taken to the QA committee.

Reviewed all complications of procedures and took them to the QA committee.

Developed competency requirements for all nurses responsible for monitoring patients receiving IV conscious sedation.

Handled all incident reports from the ASC and the medical offices.
10720 Arrow Lane, Chardon, Ohio 44024

440.285.7201

 440.343.0147

sharonmartino@legalnursesystems.com web: www.legalnursesystems.com

Policy & Procedures for the ASC
Wrote the Policy for the unit utilizing the Standards for Practice for Gastroenterology
Nursing and addressing:
Protocol for Procedures Safety
Emergency Measures Patient Bill of Rights
Obtaining Specimens Housekeeping
Medication
Infection Control
Equipment Care
Quality Assurance
Scheduling procedures
Personnel orientation, training, & evaluating
Continuous Quality Improvement

Developed and chaired the Continuous Quality Improvement Program for the ASC and the Medical Offices.

Performed Quality Assurance studies in the following areas:

Long Recovery study: Reviewed cases where patients took longer to recover to be discharged. Discovered that the patients where dehydrated from the colonoscopy preparation, made a correction in care, long recovery stay decreased.

Low Blood Sugar study: Some patients where becoming very sick after their procedure. Discovered that these patients, due to fasting for their procedure where experiencing low blood sugars. Making a correction of increase IV dextrose and checking blood sugar resulted in these patients doing very well and not becoming ill.

Starting cases on time: Worked with the physician to correct this.

Colonoscopy recall: Looked at the colonoscopy recall schedule for patients that had pre-cancerous colon polyps removed. Took the findings to the physicians to ensure that these patients at risk be recalled at the appropriate time.

Monitored appropriate documentation in the medical office charts: To ensure accurate and appropriate documentation in the medical office charts.

Patient Satisfaction Surveys: Conducted these surveys to get feedback from patients and improve the care.
Peer Review
Assisted our Peer Review Physician in reviewing the physician’s management and treatment of patients. Communicated the findings to each physician and wrote reports of the resolution of the issues.
Patient Assessment
Responsible for the assessment of all patients in the ASC

Preparation for and understanding of the procedure.

Medical history.

Medications.
10720 Arrow Lane, Chardon, Ohio 44024

440.285.7201

 440.343.0147

sharonmartino@legalnursesystems.com web: www.legalnursesystems.com


Surgical History.
 Evaluating the patient’s health to assure a safe procedure.

Provided all monitoring equipment and training staff to ensure a safe procedure.
 Started IV’s on patients receiving IV sedation.
 Developed protocols to evaluate the patient’s readiness to leave the ASC after the procedure.

Provided discharge instructions for the patients.
Staff Management
Assured that each licensed and non-licensed staff member work within his or her own scope of practice.

Responsible for orientation and supervision of staff in the endoscopy suite and for clinical activities in the Medical Offices.
 Wrote job descriptions, gave education and training and evaluations for RN’s, LPN’s and medical assistants.
 Responsible for supervising RN’s in recovery room care and endoscopy procedures.
 Responsible for supervising LPN’s in recovery room care, endoscopy procedures and endoscopy equipment care.

Responsible for supervising medical assistants working in the recovery room, endoscopy equipment care and administering IM injections.
OSHA
As Practice OSHA officer developed and oversee the OSHA and Safety requirements for the ASC and the Medical offices including:

Exposure Control Plan.

Universal Precautions.

Personnel protection.

Hepatitis vaccine and TB testing requirements.

Hazard communication.

Hazardous waste disposal.

Injury and Illness prevention policy.
 Drills for: Fire, Internal and External Disaster, and Tornado’s.

Medical emergency measures for the medial offices.

Infection Control for the medical offices the Medical offices.
Responsible for all emergency measures within the ASC including ACLS (Advanced
Cardiac Life Support) & CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
Responsible for ordering equipment and for equipment safety with the guidance of biomedical engineers.
10720 Arrow Lane, Chardon, Ohio 44024

440.285.7201

 440.343.0147

sharonmartino@legalnursesystems.com web: www.legalnursesystems.com

Active member of the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates since 1980 and holding positions at both the local and national level. Achieved certification in the charter year.

Wrote Standards for Practice for Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates for Ambulatory Surgical Centers in the physician office setting.

Editor of the Western New York Newsletter from 1986 to 1988 and wrote various articles for the newsletter.

Member of various committees for the National SGNA 1988 Conference in Niagara
Falls, NY.

Appointed to the National Committee on Standards for Practice and served from 1990 to 1992.

Appointed to the Board of Directors for the North Coast Ohio SGNA, 1991 to 1993.

Editor of the North Coast Ohio SGNA newsletter, 1991 to 1993.

Appointed to the National Society Regional and Bylaws Committee, 1991 to 1993.

Active member of various educational planning committees for the North Coast Ohio
SGNA, 1991 to 1993.

Appointed to the Board of Directors of the SGNA Special Interest Office Endoscopy
Group. Also served as editor of the SGNA Office Endoscopy Newsletter.
 Member of the planning committee for the National Society’s Office Endoscopy course.

Served as delegate, public relations chair, newsletter editor and board member for the
North Coast Ohio SGNA during 1993 and 1994.

President-elect North Coast Ohio SGNA, 1994.

Program director North Coast Ohio Annual Education Seminar 1994.

Chair, Office Endoscopy Special Interest Group, National SGNA, 1994.

Chair, Regional Societies, National SGNA, 1994.

President of North Coast Ohio SGNA, 1995.

SGNA Regional Society Chair, National SGNA, 1995.

Chair, Ambulatory GI Practice Special Interest Group, 1995.

Second term, President of North Coast Ohio SGNA.1996.

Remained on the board North Coast Ohio SGNA helped with annual education courses, 1997 to 1999.
10720 Arrow Lane, Chardon, Ohio 44024

440.285.7201

 440.343.0147

sharonmartino@legalnursesystems.com web: www.legalnursesystems.com

IV Sedation, North Coast Ohio SGNA Educational Course, 1990.
Office Endoscopy , North Coast Ohio SGNA Educational Course, 1992.
Standards for Practice Office Endoscopy, National Office Endoscopy Educational
Course, 1993.
Job Descriptions for Office Endoscopy , National Office Endoscopy Educational Course,
1993.
Accreditation Agencies; Medicare, JCHAO and AAAHC, National SGNA Annual
Course, 1994.
Using Personal Computers in Medical Record Review and Analysis , American
Association of Legal Nurse Consultants, Bay Chapter of Northern California, January 10,
2006.
Using Personal Computers in Medical Record Review and Analysis, Indulge
Conference by RN Market, Tampa, Florida, February 25, 2006.
Using Computers in a Legal Nurse Consulting Practice , American Association of Legal
Nurse Consultants, 2006 National Education Conference, Atlanta, Georgia, March 24,
2006.
Using Computers in a Legal Nurse Consulting Practice, Rose Clifford Annual Re-
Union Course, July 22, 2006.
Using Computers in a Legal Nurse Consulting Practice , American Association of Legal
Nurse Consultants, Jacksonville, Florida, August 22, 2006.
Technology Today for Legal Nurse Consultants , American Association of Legal Nurse
Consultants, Austin, Texas, April 27, 2007.
Using Technology to Analyze and Demonstrate Medical-Legal Cases for Legal Nurses,
RN Market, May 17, 2007
Adventures of Shirley Lock “The Case of the Phone that didn’t Ring”
AALNC [American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants] April 11, 2008
10720 Arrow Lane, Chardon, Ohio 44024

440.285.7201

 440.343.0147

sharonmartino@legalnursesystems.com web: www.legalnursesystems.com

Martino, S. M. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Education for Nursing Units within the
Hospital. Gastroenterology Nursing 1990 Spring;12(4):270-3.
Schaffer. M., Martino S. M. Infection Control Aspects of Office Endoscopy.
Gastroenterology Nursing 1993 Apr;15(5):201-4.
Martino, Sharon, RN. Using Computer Tools to Create Medical Chronologies . LNC
Resource , April / May 2006, Vol. 3, No. 4/5.
Martino, Sharon M., RN. Technology Tools for Legal Nurse Consultants. The Journal of Legal Nurse Consulting.
Volume 17, Number 4, Fall 2006
Martino, Sharon, RN. How I became a Legal Nurse Consultant and Developed a
Software Business.
Nurse Entrepreneurs, Tales of Nurses in Business, National Nurses in Business Association, Patricia Ann Bemis, RN, CEN President of NNBA, 4 th Edition
2007.
Martino, Sharon, RN Tech Corner “An interview with Sharon M. Martino, RN, of Legal
Nurse Systems, designer of Software for Life Care Planners”
Journal of Nurse Life Care
Planning Volume 7 Number 3, Fall 2007
10720 Arrow Lane, Chardon, Ohio 44024

440.285.7201

 440.343.0147

sharonmartino@legalnursesystems.com web: www.legalnursesystems.com

Objectives Contents Time Presenter Method
Teach Paralegals to use the
Application of Software to
Organize and Enter Medical
Records
Teach Paralegals to Generate
Final Reports from the
Software Database
Teach Paralegals to Prepare
Trial Exhibits from the
Software’s Reports , Charts &
Graphics
Evaluation
Jane Doe Case Study


Medical Record Entry Methods
Enter information to prepare Chronologies,
Timelines, Charts and Graphics

Searching, Sorting and Reviewing Pertinent
Records for the Case

Prepare Separate Requested Reports as Needed

Enter Laboratory Studies and Diagnostic Studies related to the Case

Enter Notes about Involved Parties to prepare
Deposition Summaries

Prepare a Glossary of Medical Terminology
Jane Doe Case Study


Chronologies
Expert Chronologies
 Selected Reports
 Timelines

Charts and Graphics

Create of List of Players

Deposition Summaries

Glossaries of Medical Terminology
Preparation of Trial Exhibits


Demonstrate Medical Records with Power Point
Power Demonstration of Timelines, Charts &
Graphs

Poster Board Timelines, Charts & Graphics
Q & A
10 min Sharon M. Martino, RN
10 min Sharon M. Martino, RN
10min Sharon M. Martino, RN
5 min
Webinar viewing Legal
Nurse Systems Medical
Record Analysis Software
Same
Same
Same
Sharon M. Martino, RN
10720 Arrow Lane, Chardon, Ohio 44024

440-285-7201  440-343-0147

sharonmartino@legalnursesystems.com, www.legalnursesystems.com