A Life Care Plan is a dynamic document based on published standards of practice, comprehensive assessment, data analysis, and research, which provides an organized, concise plan for current and future needs with the associated costs for individuals who experienced catastrophic injury or have chronic health care needs. Definition from “Life Care Planning and Case Management Handbook”, Roger O. Weed, Ph.D (Ed.), CRC Press, 1998.

A life care plan is designed to serve as a tool for case management and is to be used as a road map for navigating and meeting future injury-related care needs for evaluees/patients, families, physicians, therapists, and other rehabilitation professionals. A life care plan outlines the long-term medical, psychological, and rehabilitation needs of an individual throughout their life expectancy. It has application in the non-litigation, as well as in the litigation arena. The plan is also designed to diminish complications and prevent further injury to the evaluee/patient. It is utilized by the judicial and insurance systems to determine the long-term needs, recommendations, and costs associated with the injury/disability involved.

The life care planner serves as an educator, not an advocate. The planner must be objective and provide recommendations after reviewing the available medical records, executing an interview, obtaining the history of the patient and family, and getting recommendations from the medical and health-related professional treatment team when possible, or another expert in the field, if the treaters are unavailable. The life care planner should also review relevant clinical practice guidelines, peer review research, and the opinions of other consulting medical/psychological experts (different physicians, therapists, etc.). The life care planner is responsible for addressing attainable rehabilitation objectives. They must then confirm that those involved in the process comprehend why particular items are included, how/when the services need to be provided, and how the plan can be best applied. The life care planner must be able to clearly convey the nature of the evaluee’s injury/disability, explain any functional limitations, and translate the likely effects the injury/disability will have over the patient’s life span.

Elements of a life care plan should include the medical/psychological recommendations and future care items within each area that has been customized to meet the needs of the evaluee/patient and their family. The associated costs, replacement schedules, implementation and termination periods, and the name of the healthcare professional providing the foundation for the recommendations are included. The standard areas typically addressed and augmented with the specific needs of the evaluee/patient usually address the following areas:

• Projected Evaluations/Extended Visits
• Projected Therapeutic Modalities
• Orthotic and Prosthetic Needs
• Home Furnishings and Accessories
• Durable Medical Items
• Aids for Independent Function
• Supplies
• Medication
• Home Care or Facility-Based Care
• Projected Future Medical Care Routine
• Surgical Interventions
• Health & Strength Maintenance
• Acute/Emergent Medical Needs
• Architectural Renovations
• Wheelchair/Ambulation Needs, Accessories and Maintenance
• Hospital Days
• Transportation