What is Life Care Planning?
A Guide to LCP's and Related Resources
What is Life Care Planning?
At MLCP, a Life Care Plan (LCP) is created to capture and summarize an individual’s established medical condition(s). It then documents the probable and ongoing medical and supportive care requirements based on medical necessity, with the associated costs over an individual’s lifetime calculated to produce an estimated total of what the medical conditions will likely cost.
Who Are Life Care Planners?
Medical Professionals
Medical professionals trained to analyze complex medical needs and create individualized plans that outline future care requirements. This includes Nurses, Social Workers, Chiropractors, Vocational Rehab Specialists, and Physicians.
Qualified Physicians
At MLCP, we utilize only Board-Certified Physicians to produce our LCPs to ensure credibility and accuracy in our Life Care Plans. In addition, we require all of our Physicians to have the CLCP (Certified Life Care Planner) credential, or be in training to attain. All of our reports are reviewed by a CPLCP (Certified Physician Life Care Planner).
Expert Testimony
Additionally, Life Care Planners often provide expert testimony to further discuss LCPs in a Deposition or Trial setting if needed by an Attorney, on behalf of their client.
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The Role of Physician Life Care Planners
- These professionals integrate advanced medical knowledge with Life Care Planning practices and methodologies to create authoritative documents that are unique to an individual.
- Their plans often carry additional weight in legal proceedings due to their superior medical credentials.
Importance of Certifications
- Certifications such as CLCP (Certified Life Care Planner) and CPLCP (Certified Physician Life Care Planner) ensure that planners are well-versed in standardized methodologies and adhere to professional guidelines and standards of practice.
- Certified Life Care Planners have demonstrated expertise in assessing medical needs, making them reliable sources for creating comprehensive plans.
- These certifications also denote membership to several associations and organizations which produce standards for Life Care Planning, and are a great resource for current information, training, education, and community.
What makes MLCP stand out in terms of Life Care Planning?
- MLCP provides LCPs for Attorneys, for both Plaintiff and Defendant cases; this helps demonstrate our neutrality as a third party that provides reports to either side.
- Certifications like CLCP or CPLCP are indicators of education, training, knowledge, expertise, and at MLCP, we have a CPLCP review all reports by Physicians, until the CLCP credential is attained.
Adapting Life Care Plans
- Life care plans should be reviewed periodically to reflect changes in the individual’s medical condition, medical advancements, or life circumstances such as moving to a different care facility or gaining access to new treatments.
- Updates ensure that the plan remains accurate and continues to meet the individual’s medical and situational needs effectively.
What is Included in a Life Care Plan
A typical life care plan involves an in-depth evaluation of an individual’s medical background, present health condition(s), anticipated healthcare needs, necessary services, and related future medical costs. Designed to outline probable long-term care, it functions as a strategic blueprint for ensuring proper treatment, and effectively plan for future expenses. Source references, and all pertinent medical records are also detailed, allowing the ability to further develop the plan, should it be needed in the future.
Click the link below to see a detailed breakdown of what’s included in a report.
FAQ's
Who Are Life Care Planners?
Healthcare professionals known as life care planners specialize in evaluating the lifelong medical needs of individuals living with chronic conditions, injuries, or disabilities. They develop comprehensive and customized plans that outline anticipated medical treatments, rehabilitative therapies, assistive technologies, and then assigning a cost to these future medical needs. Frequently called upon to act as expert witnesses, life care planners hold a valuable role in legal proceedings, for both Plaintiff and Defense cases. At MLCP, we use only Board-Certified physicians to create our Life Care Plans; additionally, all are either Certified Life Care Planners, or, in training to receive the credential.
How is a life care plan developed?
When developing a life care plan, three areas will be assessed, they include: the individual’s condition(s), future medical needs related to their condition, and costs associated with future medical needs. The life care planner will review the individual’s medical documentation, seek input from treating healthcare professionals, interview the injured party, and will utilize evidence-based medicine literature to identify future medical needs, and their associated costs.
Who benefits from life care planning?
Life care planning offers an understanding of future medical needs, and associated costs, to individuals with chronic illnesses, injuries, or long-term disabilities. By providing individualized and continuity of care planning relating to unique circumstances, it aims to address levels of pain, quality of life, daily function, and prevention of further complications.
How often should a life care plan be updated?
To remain accurate and effective, life care plans must be revisited periodically—especially when there are changes in the status of individual’s health condition, or, a modification in treatment plans. Regular updates help ensure the plan continues to reflect the person’s evolving needs and situation.
Can life care plans be used in legal cases?
Yes, life care plans are frequently employed in legal settings, including cases involving personal injury. They offer clear, measurable insights into anticipated care requirements and associated costs.
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Next Steps
Need a Life Care Plan or would like to learn more about their benefits?
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Resources
- International Commission on Health Care Certification (ICHCC) [Click to View]
- FIG Education [Click to View]
- American Academy of Physician Life Care Planners (AAPLCP) [Click to View]
- International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals (IARP) [Click to View]