Who We Are

Debbie Benes is a Registered Nurse with 17.5 years of Clinical and Management experience with knowledge of Standards of Care and Regulations in the Long Term Skilled Care Industry.  

Experience Centered On: Medical record review an analysis, assisting with preparation for annual Department of Health Survey, developing and implementing Patient Care Plans, assisting with Patient Care Plan meetings, Resident Admission Process, Fall Risk and Safety Issues, Restraint Compliance, Pain Assessment and Management, Wound Assessment, Psychoactive drug therapy monitoring, and Education and Training of Staff.  

Debbie also has two years of experience as a Case Manager in the Hospice Care field. managing and provided end-of-life care to patients who resided at home, in a long term care facility, a residential care facility, or in assisted living facilities.  Due to Debbie's experience in the hospice field, she also has knowledge of the protocols related to residential care facilities and assisted living facilities.

Two years of experience in the Workers Compensation Field as a field nurse by accompanying the injured worker to their doctor's examinations.  Both the injured worker and the physician are interviewed and a verbal as well as a written report are provided to the assigned Care Coordinator.

Debbie Benes, CLNC, RN of Benes Consulting, LLC is  CERTIFIED LEGAL NURSE CONSULTANT and NURSE LIFE CARE PLANNER.  Benes Consulting was formed in April of 2007 and is based in Corona, California.  Debbie has resided and worked in Corona for the past 28 years.

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Why Attorneys Need A Certified Legal Nurse Consultant (CLNC)

  • Nurses have comprehensive knowledge and are able to provide a more thorough and in depth medical chart review and analysis.
  • Unlike physicians, nurses have knowledge of nursing Scope and Standards of Practice and how it relates to clinical practice and documentation in the medical chart.
  • Nurses are better able to assess nursing documentation that an attorney may miss that would better substantiate the issues.
  • Prepares a comprehensive case report based on attorney's needs.
  • Each case is thoroughly reviewed for Merit based on opinion of the nurse consultant's expertise.
  • Each case is thoroughly reviewed and analyzed for deviations from the Standards of Care.
  • Provides Expert Witness testimony in Depositions and at Trial.
Independent/Defense Medical Exams (IME/DME) - Why An Attorney Nurse Observer​
  • ​Experience in patient assessment.
  • Familiar with the finer aspects of conducting an interview and examination, and reporting observations pertaining to verbal and physical responses.
  • Nurses have the medical training and the ability to convey detailed observations.
  • A detailed report is provided of the interview and exam process, along with observations made; including time frames with each component.
  • Will provide an audio CD of the examination, free of charge.
  • Attorney's client is more comfortable knowing that an experienced nurse observer will be present during the IME/DME examination.


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Nurse Life Care Planner (NLCP)

  • The Life Care Plan is a comprehensive assessment of the medical records and injured person, along with research that provides a plan of care that provides detailed information regarding current and future medical and non-medical needs and costs.
  • Life Care Plans are developed based on the inured person's specific needs that include such things as medical care, medications, surgery, psychosocial, rehabilitation, durable medical equipment, in-home care, or long term care.
  • Life Care Plans are written to cover future medical and non-medical needs over an injured person's life time.  
  • Smaller Life Care Plans can be written that include future medical and non-medical needs with a short summary for settlement purposes during mediation.
  • Life Care Plans are developed for both the Plaintiff and Defense.
  • The Life Care Plan for the Defense usually involves the nurse care planner providing a critique of the plaintiff life care plan.  A Defense Life Care Plan can be developed upon request.
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