LTC TIMELINE RECONSTRUCTION TOOL
A structured template for rebuilding the resident’s clinical timeline, identifying gaps, and highlighting deviations from standards of care.
This tool helps attorneys reconstruct the sequence of events surrounding a resident’s decline, incident, or change in condition. A clear timeline is essential for establishing breach, causation, and facility‑level failures.
Use this tool during case screening, expert review, and deposition preparation.
BASELINE TIMELINE
✔ Establish Baseline
• Admission date
• Baseline functional status
• Baseline cognitive status
• Baseline vitals
• Pre‑existing conditions
✔ Identify Key Risk Factors
• Fall risk
• Skin breakdown risk
• Infection risk
• Medication risks
• Behavioral risks
DAILY CARE EVENTS
✔ Document Daily Notes
• CNA flow sheets
• Nursing notes
• Therapy notes
• Dietary notes
• Physician visits
✔ Identify Missing or Contradictory Entries
• Gaps in documentation
• Copy‑paste patterns
• Notes that conflict with clinical event
INCIDENT TIMELINE
✔ Reconstruct the Event
• Exact time of incident
• Who discovered it
• Resident condition
• Staff response
• Notifications made
✔ Required Notifications
• Physician
• Family
• Administrator
• DON
POST‑INCIDENT TIMELINE
✔ Follow‑Up Actions
• Reassessment
• New interventions
• Increased monitoring
• Diagnostic testing
• Transfer to hospital
✔ Identify Delays
• Late physician notification
• Late family notification
• Delayed interventions
• Delayed documentation
TIMELINE RED FLAGS
• Missing documentation
• Inconsistent accounts
• Delayed response
• Unexplained changes in condition
• Lack of care plan updates