Opinion ID: 2039455
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The court's finding.

Text: Defendant claims that the conclusions that Ms. Olson needed and was provided skilled nursing care were not supported by the findings because no definition of skilled nursing care was provided in the findings. It also claims that the finding that Ms. Olson has been in need of [and] requires skilled nursing care was clearly erroneous. Dr. Kenneth Lerdahl, Ms. Olson's personal physician, testified that she was in need of skilled medical and nursing help. He further testified that the care she needed went beyond custodial care. This testimony was consistent with a letter written by Dr. Lerdahl concerning Ms. Olson in December 1974. Defendant's medical director, Dr. Donald Woodley, testified, however, that the care given Ms. Olson from December 1, 1973, until the time of trial was custodial care. That opinion was based entirely on checklist reports made by the nursing homes to defendant's claims department. Dr. Woodley never personally examined Ms. Olson and never contacted Dr. Lerdahl. [5] The trial court's findings that Ms. Olson required skilled nursing care and was provided with skilled nursing care are amply supported by the testimony of Dr. Lerdahl. All of the check sheets reviewed by Dr. Woodley were signed by nursing personnel and it is clear that his conclusions were based completely on strict application of detailed Medicare definitions. A finding is clearly erroneous if it is not reasonably supported by the evidence as a whole. Northern States Power Co. v. Lyon Food Products, 304 Minn. 196, 229 N.W.2d 521 (1975). The trial court's finding that plaintiff required skilled nursing care was adequately supported in the testimony of Dr. Lerdahl and the documentary evidence.