V-card Susan L Updike RN, JD
Susan Updike has served as a Registered Nurse on the Medical-Surgical Unit, Intensive Care Unit and in the Emergency Department of Rush Presbyterian St. Luke’s Hospital in Chicago, Illinois; as a staff relief nurse in the Emergency Room and in the Critical Care Burn Unit of Tulane Hospital, New Orleans, Louisiana; as a registry nurse in Los Angeles area hospitals, Emergency Departments and ICUs for Nursing Services International of Beverly Hills, and continues to serve as a registry nurse in the critical care and emergency room areas for United Medical Personnel of Beverly Hills, California.
Since 1985, Susan has provided her medical-legal services to one incarnation or another of Fonda & Fraser, LLP, reviewing, analyzing and summarizing medical records, retaining and conferencing with medical experts, and generally bringing understanding of the legal issues from the medical world.
Education
Southern Illinois University, 1972-1975
Rush University, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, 1977
Dean's List 1976-1977
Southwestern University School of Law, Juris Doctor Degree, 1984
Oxford University, Oxford, England, 1984
Nursing Licensure
Illinois, 1977, Louisiana, 1980, California, 1980
Professional Organizations & Activities
Member Southern California Association of Hospital Risk Managers
Member, Redondo Beach Fire Dept. Community Emergency Response Team
Member, American Association of Nurse Attorneys
Member, American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants Los Angeles Chapter
Medical Reserve Corps Certified State Disaster Service Worker, Los Angeles County, 2005 - 2010
Emergency System of Advance Registration for Volunteer Health Professionals (ESAR-VHP), Los Angeles County, pre-qualified health volunteer to provide critical health services following a terrorist attack, disaster, or other public health emergency, 2007, 2008
Publications
Updike, Susan, "Records Can Make A Case," NURSEweek, June 11, 1990
Updike, Susan, "The Role of the Medical Legal Specialist," NURSEweek, November 12, 1990
Teaching/Presentations
Medical-Legal Nursing Issues, 1987
Advanced Clinical Nursing Elective, Pacific Union College, 1989
"Triage & Beyond", Medical Legal Issues for Emergency Room Nurses, 1991, 1992, Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center
Invited Speaker - Medicolegal Aspects of Pediatric Emergency Care, 1993, 1994, multiple locations.
