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Associates Biographies
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Tracy Pagano |
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Tracy Pagano has been a registered nurse since 1992 and practiced as a legal nurse consultant since 1998. By bringing years of clinical nursing practice to the field of legal nurse consulting, she has proven to be an invaluable resource in the field of medical review and analysis. Tracy’s clinical background includes pediatric trauma, case management (adult and pediatric), research, and patient education. Her leadership skills were developed while working at some of the most prestigious medical institutions in the country, where she served as unit supervisor, new hire preceptor, and eventually assumed management roles. Based in the Sacramento region, Tracy’s clientele includes some of the most prestigious attorneys in central California. While providing review and analysis of medical records, Tracy has also served as an Expert Witness in the IME/DME arena, and assists with mediation procedures when medical issues are of paramount concern.
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Valerie Soares |
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Valerie Soares, RN has provided medical case management including catastrophic coordination of medical care, and vocational rehabilitation services within the workers’ compensation system since 1987. She has developed successful return-to-work (RTW) plans for both injured workers and employees. As Case Manager of a hospital-based Injured Workers Services, she directed care of ambulatory clients toward specific goals of physical rehabilitation. She has provided telephonic and field case management, utilization review, job analysis, ergonomic assessments and Qualified Rehabilitation Representative services for various referral sources including insurance companies, Third Party Administrators (TPA) and self-insured’s. Ms. Soares has developed cost projections for future medical care, as well as Life Care Plans. She supervised and managed 50+ nurses throughout California and in other states including Arizona, Oregon, Alaska and Hawaii, while utilizing and teaching ACOEM Guidelines, Milliman & Robertson Healthcare Management Guidelines and Official Disability Guidelines. In addition to her case management work, she has also performed quality assurance and risk management activities, including statewide audits.
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Heather Truro |
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Heather Truro brings over 20 years of experience in helping employers manage and reduce workers’ compensation losses by providing customized training, procedures, tools, and strategies. Her extensive claims background provides the foundation for structuring procedures that work. Her focus on reducing the total cost of risk through preventative strategies as well as injury management techniques wins her the praise of her clients. As an independent consultant she is uniquely positioned to provide clients with customized solutions including everything from training existing staff to working as a temporary or part-time on-site claims manager. Services can be provided on a project basis such as an overall assessment with prioritized findings and recommendations, or on a routine basis such as an employer’s claims advocate conducting claims reviews/audits with reserve analysis and action plans. She consults with clients on compliance issues that are required before an injury happens, as well as creating and implementing return-to-work programs. |
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