Encarta Dictionary: English (North America) chronology (noun) 1. Order of events: the order in which events occur, or their arrangement according to this order.]

This simple definition is what many professionals conceptualize when they think “chronology”. If only it were that simple.

This is how not to do a chronology:

• Enter every doctor’s order, every medication given, and the results of all x-rays and lab work.
• Include every vital sign and diagnosis that is recorded.
• Use a separate row for each type of event and be certain not to miss any of the above.
• Record abbreviations without explanation.
• Work at the speed of light.

The result would be a 100 page chronology filled with errors and minutiae, faithfully recorded without knowledge of its bearing on the case, deviations from standard of care, definitions of medical terminology, or ability to connect the many dots.

A legal nurse doing the same chronology would be seeing the case unfold in her experience, and understand policy and procedure, and what “standard of care” really means.

She would likely produce only 20 pages of data after sifting through the information that is not relevant to the case. There would be an extra column with observations, definitions, research data and identification of unrelated conditions.

The resulting chronology would be not an endpoint, but merely the first stage of organizing the course of events to allow a pattern to emerge.  

Length does not equal quality, and recitation without filtering is a waste of time, resources, and money.