CAROL H. BEST, R.N., B.S., M.B.A.

EDUCATION

Vickie Milazzo Institute
CLNC 6-day Certification Seminar
43.5 Contact Hours, 2004

University of Florida/Intelicus
Life Care Planning Program for Catastrophic Case Management
128 Contact Hours, post-graduate course, 2000

University of Phoenix • Phoenix, Arizona
Master of Business Administration, 1988

Northern Arizona University College of Health • Flagstaff, Arizona
Bachelor of Science in Health Services and Nursing, 1985

Philadelphia General Hospital School of Nursing • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
R.N. Degree, 1966

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

6/04 - Present Best Medical-Legal Nurse Consultants, Inc. • Maui, HI
Legal Nurse Consulting/Life Care Plans

9/03 - 6/04 Access Health Hawaii, L.L.C. • Honolulu, HI
Case Manager/Life Care Plans

1/95 - 9/03 Best Consulting Corporation • Scottsdale, Arizona
Corporation developed in November of 1994.
Nurse Consultant
Comprehensive medical case management. Specializing in catastrophic incidents/diseases: head injury, anoxia, spinal cord injury, cerebrovascular disease, epilepsy, amputation and burns, including life care planning.

8/89 - 12/94 Rehabilitation Specialists Group, Inc. • Phoenix, Arizona
Nurse Consultant Comprehensive medical case management.
Specializing in catastrophic incidents/diseases: head injury, anoxia, spinal cord injury, cerebrovascular disease, epilepsy, amputation and burns.

Circle K Corporate Nurse Consultant, 1/93 - 9/93
Responsible to corporate risk manager. Developed and implemented the Early Nurse Intervention Program for all workers' compensation injuries nationwide. Overall lost time decreased by 46%.

8/88 - 8/89 Meridian Point Rehabilitation Hospital • Scottsdale, Arizona
Consultant/Admission Services Liaison, Western Region
Directly responsible to vice president/CEO for the development of regional referral sources: acute care hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, state Medicaid agencies, private insurance companies, workers' compensation, private rehabilitation companies, and physicians. Responsibilities included budget development and resource development.

Nursing Administrator
Responsible directly to CEO for the design and implementation of a full-service nursing department in this start-up specialty hospital. Responsibilities included recruitment and retention of all nursing personnel, nursing department budget, Arizona and JCAHO certifications. Accountable for efficient and effective management of nursing department. Responsibilities included development and implementation of nursing department: policies and procedures, both administratively and clinically; nurse manager's role; nursing quality assurance program; pharmacy services; laboratory and x-ray services; infection control; staff development (entire hospital); and employee health.

7/82 - 8/88 Good Samaritan Medical Center • Phoenix, Arizona
Program Director, Head Injury/Stroke Rehabilitation
Day Hospital Directly responsible to the rehabilitation administrator and medical director for the development and implementation of the programmatic format of a day hospital to service both head-injured and CVA candidates in need of full service rehabilitation on an outpatient basis. Responsibilities included development and implementation of a budget, program marketing and staff development. Accountable for the overall efficient administration of the day hospital.

Clinical Coordinator, Orthopedic Technician Service
Responsibilities included development of the clinical programmatics of an orthopedic service, utilizing both a nursing and orthopedic technical approach to patient care; personal and professional growth of seven orthopedic physicians; and development of the budget.

Staff Nurse
Head injury and stroke rehabilitation.

8/81 - 6/82 Intermed Communications, Inc. • Springhouse, Pennsylvania
Clinical Editor
Directly responsible for accuracy of clinical format and artistic content of "Caring for Surgical Patients," "Working with Orthopedic Patients," "Helping Geriatric Patients." Team leader for two writers, two artists and two photographers.

2/77 - 7/81 Barrow Neurological Institute • Phoenix, Arizona
Head Nurse, Neurological Intensive Care
Responsibilities included 24-hour management of a 10-bed neurological (hyperbaric chamber) intensive care unit consisting mainly of neurological patients (tumor and vascular) and stroke patients due to ruptured AVMs and aneurysms. Design and implementation of a complete patient monitoring system, including TV cameras; development and implementation of unit budget; personal and professional growth of 26 RNs.

1974 - 1/77 Phoenix Nursing Registry • Phoenix, Arizona
Charge Nurse, ICU Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix General Hospital, Good Samaritan Hospital, and Doctors Hospital.

1969 - 1971 Herrick Memorial Hospital • Berkeley, California
Assistant Inservice Coordinator for Nursing Responsible for continuing education for hospital staff.

Kaiser Permanente • Berkeley, California
Charge Nurse
Coronary Care/ICU Unit.

1967 - 1969 Barrow Neurological Institute • Phoenix, Arizona
Staff Nurse Neuro ICU.

Phoenix Baptist Hospital • Phoenix, Arizona
Coronary Care
Coordinated opening of 10-bed, state-of-the-art Intensive Care/ Coronary Care Unit.

CERTIFICATIONS

• Certified Legal Nurse Consultant
• Certified Life Care Planner
• Certified Case Manager

LICENSURE

• Hawaii, Arizona, California

AFFILIATIONS

Present

• National Alliance of Certified Legal Nurse Consultants
• Hawaii Case Management Society/State and Local Chapters
• Neurotrauma Registry/Hawaii and Arizona/Board Member
• American Association of Nurse Life Care Planners
• Care Planners Forum
• HG Experts Toastmasters/No Ka Oi, Kahului, Maui

Past:

• Kids' Chance Board Member
• Rehabilitation Insurance Nurses Group (RING)
• Association of Workers' Compensation Claims Adjusters (AWCCA)
• American Association of Neuroscience Nurses (ANN)
• Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN)
• Arizona Nurses in Management (ANM)
• National Head Injury Foundation, Arizona Chapter (NHIF/AHIF)
• Mayor's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped
• Federal Head Injury Task Force, Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration (Appointment)
• Chairperson of Region (Appointment) PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS • Presenter, “Legal Nurse Consulting”, Hawaii Attorney General, 2004
• Internet Radio Program, “The Nurse Is In,” 2003
• Coordinated full day seminar/presenter, IEA, March, 2001
• Presenter, Arizona Trial Lawyers Association, February, 2001
• Faculty, IEA (Insurance Education Association), 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
• Presenter, AWCCA Conference, February, 1998
• Presenter, Southwest Head Injury Association Conference, 1990
• Presenter, Paper/Poster Reviewer, National Head Injury Foundation Conference, 1988
• Guest Lecturer, "Pathways to Independence," Faculty Member, Arizona Head Injury Foundation, 1988
• Paper/Poster Reviewer, Association of Rehabilitation Nurses Conference, 1988
• Chairman (1989); Planner (1989); Guest Lecturer (1988), "Vocational Issues, Traumatic Brain Injury," Rehabilitation Services Administration, Region IX
• Grand Rounds; "Day Hospital Concept, Case Management," Hilltop Rehabilitation Institute, 1988 & 1987
• Faculty, Rehabilitation Course for RNs, Samaritan Rehabilitation Institute, 1988, 1987, 1986, 1985
• Developed and implemented Vocational Reentry Program and Job Station Program for both head injury and stroke clients. Designed three-part audiovisual program, 1986