--Latest Blog Posts--
"All the darkness in the world
cannot extinguish the light
of a single candle."
~St. Francis of Assisi
Why be someone's Sun, only there on the bright days, when you can be their Moon, and shine in their darkest hour?
For Families...
Suffering a loss can be very painful. But to have that happen because of a mistake can make it even more devastating.
But how do you know if a mistake was made? How do you know if something was an accident, an oversight, or just downright negligence?
Experience.
I’ve been a practicing physician for seventeen years. I have worked in downtown hospitals, military bases and private rural practice. I have served on policy-making advisory boards and as medical director for nursing and group homes – and entrusted my own family members to the care of these facilities. I’ve seen and experienced firsthand the damage that can be done by overzealousness, carelessness, and overconfidence, just to name a few.
If you’re not sure what went wrong, or even if something has, let me have a look at it. Get an answer so you can decide what to do next.
For Attorneys...
Effectively organizing medical information in a legal setting can be a real test, whether you're representing the plaintiff or the defendant. I've been on both sides of the malpractice fight and I've seen first-hand the challenges faced by the legal team. Sorting through often incomplete documentation, picking out critical episodes, and identifying missing vital reports takes not only meticulous analytical skills but also an intimate and ready knowledge of the medical field. Furthermore, this must all be accomplished in a team setting, to a deadline. This is something for which I possess unique and extensive qualifications.
My undergraduate background in Mathematics from Kent State University gave me an appreciation for methodical analysis. My medical education at Case Western Reserve University and seventeen years of clinical practice as a rural family physician have given me a wide range of experience.
As a legal consultant, I have collaborated on cases involving everything from hip fractures to terminal ulcers, from pediatric to geriatric patients, and even infections picked up while vacationing in Central America.
I have served in two military branches (as enlisted and as an officer) and on advisory and policy-making boards for several organizations. Teamwork, time pressures, and effective communication have consistently been defining characteristics of my professional life.
Services & Fees
Step 1: Call me any time… it’s free.
We’ll discuss your case, what you understand happened, and where you think things went wrong.
Step 2: Get the records.
Cost: depends on the doctor’s office, hospital or nursing home
As a patient, Estate Administrator, designated Power of Attorney or Next of Kin you can ask for the records. Make sure you request them from all physicians, hospitals, and/or nursing homes involved, but note some of these charge for copies. Have them sent to my secure fax server at 440-259-6835, or delivered by mail. Do NOT send them as an email, as it’s hard to guarantee a chain of security.
Step 3: The Initial Review and Affidavit of Merit
Cost: $160.00 per hour
I’ll study the records and determine if I believe there is a case or not, and tell you, in detail, why. If needed by your state or county I can then prepare an Affidavit of Merit.
Step 4: The Narrative & Summary
Cost: $160.00 per hour
I’ll go through the records page-by-page and prepare for you a narrative: a chronological account of the events, noting what’s relevant and what isn’t, with references to page numbers in the records for efficient verification. I’ll then make a summary where I’ll explain what exactly went wrong, and why, with standards of care, government guidelines and/or journal articles listed, if needed, to support the claim.
View a sample Narrative & Summary for Patient MA
Step 5: The Expert Testimony
Cost: $720.00 per day
I'll go with you to court (or appear by Zoom or other remote links, if need be) to explain what I've found and why it's important. I will only charge for days I'm present, and less than half days will be billed at the hourly rate.
About Dr. Arnold...
As a consultant:
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I served as the medical director for a number of skilled nursing, assisted living, and intermediate care facilities throughout Northeast Ohio.
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I also served on several advisory boards for Naval Hospital 29 Palms and Trumbull Regional Medical Center, involved in perinatal care, payor contract negotiations, and physician relations.
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For six years I was the Public Member of the credentialing council for the Professional Association for Therapeutic Horsemanship as they undertook the design of a more rigorous certification process for their instructors.
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Most recently I have been consulting on malpractice cases across Northeast Ohio.
As a physician:
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From 2021 to 2023 I operated an independent practice engaged primarily in providing in-home care to the Amish community of northern and central Ohio and western Pennsylvania. During this time I was also involved in conducting disability assessment clinics for the Social Security Administration.
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Prior to that, I ran a family practice clinic affiliated with Trumbull Regional Medical Center, a facility of the multi-state Steward Medical Group.
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I was also on active duty with the US Navy as a staff physician at the Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center in 29 Palms, California, caring for 11,000 Marines and their families.
Education:
AMERICAN BOARD OF PHYSICIAN SPECIALTIES
Tampa, FL
Board Certification in Family Medicine
CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Cleveland, OH
Doctor of Medicine
KENT STATE UNIVERSITY
Kent, OH
Bachelor of Science, Theoretical Mathematics, cum laude
Furthermore…
Dr. Arnold grew up on a farm in rural Ohio and spent many years working in factories before college, which gave him a personal appreciation of the common struggles of everyday people.
In 1998 Dr. Arnold received the U.S. Cavalry's coveted Draper Armor Leadership Award
In 2018 the novel "The Silver Horn Echoes: A Song Of Roland", which he co-authored with Michael Eging, received the New Apple Book Award for Historical Military Fiction
“Dr. Arnold has reviewed complex medical records and prepared narratives for me on multiple litigation cases. His work is timely and his narratives are clear, on point and easy to follow. I hesitate to write this recommendation because I want him all to myself!”
—Patrick T. Murphy, Esq.,
Cleveland, OH
CONTACT
Steven Arnold MD, LLC
11525 Taylor Wells Rd.
Chardon, OH 44024-8910
ph: 440-637-4229
fax: 440-259-6835
Call, text, email or fill out the form, and I will get back to you within 24 hours.