Page 50 of Dr. Alaska
Lee knew those HIPAA rules far too well. Only the staff who were officially assigned to care for Nick could discuss details of his case without his explicit permission. No other healthcare worker was allowed to access the chart. Including Maverick, because he was not acting as an official EMS provider.
She drummed her fingers on the laminate tabletop. However.
If Randy’s lawsuit went forward, its success would hinge on the medical record. Any mention of an injury depended on the doctor’s exam as evidence. Sometimes even a doctor’s testimony in court. She knew that fact from working on patients’ disability claims over the years.
Her palms sweated.
She had to remain objective. First and foremost, she had to care for her patient and make sound clinical assessments and provide high-quality care. His health came first. She double-checked the CT images. Not ready to view yet.
Time to return to the chart documentation basics. She smiled to herself. Intro to Clinical Practice, first year of medical school, day one—history of present illness.
Lee would take a complete history from her patient.Verycomplete. She would document his responses to her medical questions in the chart. As a physician caring for a trauma victim, sheshouldadd pertinent clinical information relevant to this patient’s case.
Pertinent clinical information, such as direct quotes from other witnesses regarding the accident. Mitigating factors.
Factual statements could help better understand what led up to the accident. The mechanism of injury. The mental state of the patient and those around him. This entire process was just Lee being a thorough physician, really.
Out in the waiting area, Randy continued talking, voice lower but still coming through the intercom perfectly. He’d circled back to his original bragging, as she suspected he eventually would do. “Yeah, this is great news. We’re so close, I can almost taste it.”
Lee picked up a scrap piece of paper and a pen.
Chapter Nineteen
We were doneanyway.
Biggest understatement Mav had ever spoken.
His throat burned and shoulders ached as the implications of this entire weekend bore down on him. Soon, he would have nothing left except the dogs. He patted Kenai’s head as she and the others lapped up fresh water.
If he lost the lodge, he wouldn’t have a place to keep his dogs. His gut twisted in a knot.
The family business, his parents’ dream, the wild and beautiful land close enough to town to do his job, the place where his dogs lived—all of it would come to an abrupt end.
At least he still had his paramedic job, and it did give him satisfaction to help patients. That work would fill some of the gaping void. Like a single suture holding together a long, deep laceration, it wouldn’t be enough, but it would be something.
He checked his watch. 5:20. He needed to start back to the lodge before the weather turned again. He had to feed the team their dinner. He would return to a home he might have just lost. God, what was he going to tell Dee? His gut clenched. He didn’t want to add another loss to all that she already dealt with.
Peering out the window across the parking lot, he stared at the red and whiteEMERGENCYsign. The shapes of the letters wavered in and out of focus as snow gusts blew past.
Speaking of things he had lost.We were done anyway.
With a groan, he sat on the concrete floor next to the team. The sounds of wet lapping and snuffling normally made him smile. He dropped his chin on his knee and watched water dribble out of Bob’s lopsided mouth.
Lee made him smile and so much more.
What he’d give to stay in that moment before the satellite phone call.
He loved that Lee wore too many layers because she had no clue how to dress for Alaskan weather. He loved the care she provided the patients in the hospital, treating them all like family. He loved her laughter, enthusiasm, and bright conversation as they hiked with the dogs across the meadow. He loved that she loved his dogs.
He would carry the sensation of her soft lips pressed to his and the feel of her body trembling beneath him for the rest of his life.
Damn it. He dropped a gloved fist on the floor with a muffledthud.
Kenai met his gaze with a dog smile filled with trust and love. Like she knew he would take care of them.
He sat up straighter.
No. This couldn’t be the end. He would fight. He would challenge whatever litigation Randy planned, right down to Mav’s last breath and dollar. The guy was slimy, and Mav was determined to prove it.
