Maximizing Treating Physician Consultations in Life Care Planning

How functional assessments and structured consultations help clarify future medical care needs.

Introduction

In personal injury and medical malpractice litigation, treating physicians are often the most knowledgeable source regarding a patient’s medical condition and anticipated treatment. However, medical records and deposition testimony do not always fully address how an injury may affect a person’s future care needs.

Life care planners routinely consult with treating physicians to clarify anticipated treatment, long-term complications, and evolving care needs. Attorneys are often surprised by the level of detail physicians provide during these structured consultations—information that may not emerge during routine clinical visits or traditional litigation questioning.

These consultations are an important component of developing a defensible life care plan because they allow the treating physician to clarify future care recommendations within the context of the patient’s functional limitations and long-term prognosis.

Key Insights for Attorneys

Treating physicians often focus on current treatment, while life care planners evaluate future care needs over a lifetime.
Structured consultations help clarify anticipated follow-up care, rehabilitation needs, and potential complications.
Occupational therapists conducting home assessments can identify functional and environmental barriers physicians may not see during clinic visits.
Integrating these observations into physician consultations often leads to more detailed and medically supported recommendations.
Incorporating treating physician input strengthens the credibility and defensibility of life care plans.

Why Physician Consultations Matter in Life Care Planning

Medical records typically document past and current care. While these records are essential, they may not always address how an injury will influence a person’s long-term medical needs.

Through consultation, treating physicians can clarify issues such as:

anticipated follow-up care
long-term medication management
future surgical or procedural interventions
expected rehabilitation needs
potential complications associated with aging with the condition

These insights allow the life care planner to incorporate the physician’s medical perspective when projecting future care.

The Role of Functional Assessment

Life care planners—particularly those with occupational therapy backgrounds—evaluate how an individual’s medical condition affects daily function.

During the evaluation process, the life care planner assesses how impairments influence the individual’s ability to perform everyday tasks such as mobility, self-care, and household activities. This functional perspective helps connect medical diagnoses to real-world care needs.

When this information is discussed with treating physicians, it provides important context that can influence future care recommendations.

How Home Assessments Inform Physician Consultations

When life care planners conduct home assessments, they gain valuable insight into how the individual functions within their daily environment. Occupational therapists are uniquely trained to evaluate the interaction between medical impairments and the physical demands of the home.

During a home visit, the life care planner may observe challenges that are not readily apparent during a clinical appointment, such as:

difficulty navigating stairs or uneven surfaces
balance deficits during transfers or bathing
limited endurance when performing household tasks
environmental barriers that increase fall risk
caregiver demands associated with daily activities

Physicians typically evaluate patients in a clinical setting and may not observe these environmental challenges firsthand. When life care planners share these functional observations during consultation, physicians can more accurately consider how the patient’s condition may influence future care needs.

This collaboration can lead to more informed recommendations regarding rehabilitation services, assistive equipment, home modifications, or supportive care.

Areas Commonly Clarified During Physician Consultations

Life care planners often seek clarification from treating physicians regarding anticipated future care needs. Topics frequently addressed include:

expected frequency of follow-up appointments
long-term medication management
future procedures or surgeries
anticipated therapy or rehabilitation needs
potential complications related to aging with the condition
recommended assistive devices or mobility equipment
need for home support or caregiving services
long-term monitoring or diagnostic testing

These discussions help ensure that projected future care recommendations align with the treating physician’s expectations for ongoing management.

Strengthening the Defensibility of the Life Care Plan

When future care recommendations reflect input from treating physicians, the life care plan reflects a collaborative medical perspective rather than speculation.

By integrating medical expertise with functional observations gathered during clinical and home assessments, life care planners can more accurately project the long-term needs associated with complex injuries.

For attorneys, this process helps ensure that future care projections are grounded in both medical expertise and real-world functional considerations, strengthening the credibility of the life care plan.

Expert Perspective

This article reflects the clinical methodology used by Turning Point Life Care Planning when consulting with treating physicians during life care plan development.

In Virginia cases, these consultations are frequently conducted by Wendy Harper, OTR/L, CLCP, who specializes in functional assessments and home evaluations for individuals with complex injuries.

Her clinical background in occupational therapy allows her to evaluate how medical impairments translate into real-world functional challenges within the home environment. These insights often provide valuable context when discussing long-term care needs with treating physicians.

By combining physician consultation with functional and environmental assessment, life care planners can help ensure that projected future care needs reflect both the medical realities of the condition and the practical demands of daily life.

Meet Our Expert

Wendy Harper, MS, OT/L, CLCP
Occupational Therapist | Certified Life Care Planner | Functional Capacity Evaluator

Wendy Harper, OTR/L, CLCP is a Certified Life Care Planner with Turning Point Life Care Planning based in Virginia. As an occupational therapist and life care planner, she evaluates functional capacity, environmental safety, and long-term care needs in complex medical-legal cases involving catastrophic injury and chronic disability. She works with both plaintiff and defense attorneys in matters requiring objective life care planning analysis.

Home Assessments in Life Care Planning

Home Assessments in Life Care Planning: When Seeing the Home Changes the Care Plan

Key Insight

A home assessment allows a life care planner to observe how medical impairments interact with the individual’s actual living environment. Environmental barriers, safety risks, and functional limitations may not be apparent through medical records or virtual interviews alone, and in some cases these observations can significantly influence long-term care recommendations.

Learn how home assessments in life care planning can reveal safety risks and functional limitations not always apparent in virtual evaluations.

In catastrophic injury cases, life care planners rely on medical records, clinical evaluations, and interviews to project future care needs. While these sources provide important information, they do not always capture how an individual actually functions within their living environment.

A home assessment in life care planning can provide important context by evaluating how medical impairments interact with the individual’s daily living environment. Observing the home setting may reveal safety risks, accessibility barriers, or functional limitations that are not always apparent through medical records or virtual interviews.

In some cases, these findings may significantly influence the scope of future care recommendations.

Key Takeaways for Attorneys

A home assessment in life care planning may reveal safety risks and functional limitations not fully apparent in medical records or interviews.
Virtual evaluations can provide useful information, but certain functional testing and environmental safety concerns may only be identified through in-person assessment.
Observing the home environment and performing objective functional testing can influence life care plan recommendations in some cases.

Why the Home Environment Matters in Life Care Planning

Life care planning methodology integrates medical information, functional capacity, and environmental context when evaluating future care needs.

Medical records and clinic-based evaluations typically occur in controlled settings. However, the home environment often presents different challenges that affect safety and independence. Factors such as stairs, bathroom configuration, clutter, and mobility within the home can influence how safely an individual performs daily activities.

For this reason, a home evaluation as part of life care planning can help clarify how an individual’s impairments affect their real-world functioning.

Virtual vs. In-Person Home Assessments

Home assessments may be conducted virtually or in person, depending on the circumstances of the case.

Virtual assessments can provide useful information, particularly when distance, cost considerations, or client preference make travel impractical. However, certain aspects of functional evaluation may be limited in a virtual setting.

An in-person home assessment allows the life care planner to directly observe environmental safety concerns and perform objective functional testing that cannot be reliably conducted virtually.

Case Illustration: When Seeing the Home Changed the Life Care Plan

A 70-year-old woman sustained multiple injuries in a motor vehicle accident. Medical records primarily documented orthopedic injuries and chronic pain but with a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).

Due to the distance between the evaluator and the client’s residence, the initial evaluation was conducted virtually. During that assessment, the individual appeared fatigued and reported pain but described herself as maintaining a fairly good level of independence.

Based on the information available at that time, the preliminary life care plan included:

weekly housekeeping assistance
bathroom adaptive equipment

However, when an in-person home assessment was later conducted, the evaluation revealed a significantly different picture.

Environmental Findings

Direct observation of the home environment identified:

a highly disorganized living environment with multiple fall hazards
bathroom configuration presenting significant safety risks
the individual living alone without consistent assistance

Functional Testing

The in-person home evaluation also allowed for objective functional testing that could not be performed during the virtual assessment, including:

balance testing
fall risk screening
strength testing of injured areas of the body
grip strength measurement
self-care transfer assessment
administration of the standardized Independent Living Scales (ILS)

While the individual presented as relatively independent during the virtual interview, the combination of environmental observation and objective testing revealed safety concerns and functional limitations that were not apparent during the virtual evaluation.

Impact on Life Care Plan Recommendations

Following the in-person home assessment and functional testing, the life care plan recommendations were revised to include:

daily home care assistance, rather than weekly housekeeping support
home modifications to improve accessibility and reduce fall risk

In this case, the home assessment significantly influenced the understanding of the individual’s safety risks and long-term care needs.

Practice Insight for Attorneys

When reviewing life care planning opinions, it may be helpful to consider whether the individual’s home environment has been evaluated.

A home assessment may reveal environmental safety risks, functional limitations, or support needs that are not fully captured through medical records or interviews alone. In some cases, the absence of a home assessment may leave important aspects of daily functioning unexplored.

Conclusion

A home assessment in life care planning can provide valuable insight into how medical impairments affect an individual’s ability to function safely within their living environment.

While virtual evaluations may provide useful information in certain circumstances, in-person home assessments may allow for environmental observation and objective functional testing that cannot be performed remotely.

When appropriate, incorporating a home evaluation into the life care planning process can help ensure that future care recommendations reflect the individual’s real-world circumstances and safety needs.

Life care planners frequently consider environmental context as part of their evaluation methodology when assessing long-term care needs in complex injury cases.

Frequently Asked Questions About Home Assessments in Life Care Planning

What is a home assessment in life care planning?

A home assessment evaluates how an individual’s medical impairments interact with their living environment. The evaluation may include observation of environmental safety risks, accessibility barriers, and functional performance within the home.

Why might a life care planner conduct an in-person home assessment?

An in-person home assessment allows the evaluator to observe environmental safety concerns and perform objective functional testing such as balance testing, strength testing, and standardized assessments that may not be possible during a virtual evaluation.

Are virtual life care planning evaluations acceptable?

Virtual evaluations may be appropriate when distance, cost considerations, or client preference make travel impractical. However, some environmental and functional elements may be more difficult to evaluate remotely.

How can a home assessment affect life care plan recommendations?

Observing the home environment and performing functional testing may identify safety risks or functional limitations that influence recommendations for assistance, home modifications, or other supportive services.

Meet Our Expert

Wendy Harper, MS, OT/L, CLCP
Occupational Therapist | Certified Life Care Planner | Functional Capacity Evaluator

Mobility Restored Doesn’t Mean Function Restored

Key Insight

Long-term outcomes after limb loss are shaped not only by prosthetic access, but by changes in endurance, activity tolerance, and participation that may evolve over time.

Life Care Planning After Amputation: Looking Beyond the Device

In litigation involving limb loss, future needs are often framed around prosthetic provision.

However, functional outcomes following amputation are not defined by prosthetic access alone.

Over time, individuals may experience changes in endurance, tolerance, mobility strategy, and participation — even when prosthetic technology remains appropriate and available.

For attorneys evaluating future care needs, understanding these evolving functional realities is critical.

What Changes Over Time

Clinical experience shows that individuals with limb loss may face progressive challenges that extend beyond the initial rehabilitation period, including:

Residual limb volume fluctuation
Skin tolerance issues
Increased energy cost of ambulation
Joint strain due to altered gait mechanics
Variability in prosthetic wear time
Fatigue with sustained mobility demands

These factors often emerge gradually and may not be captured during early recovery assessments.

Case Example: Functional Change Despite Prosthetic Access

A 24-year-old male with no prior functional limitations sustained a below-knee amputation.

Following rehabilitation, he achieved prosthetic use and returned to community mobility.

However, over time:

Walking endurance remained reduced compared to pre-injury levels
Skin irritation intermittently limited prosthetic wear
Heat affected comfort and fit
Attempts to return to recreational athletics — even with a sports prosthesis — were not sustainable

Despite appropriate prosthetic provision, activity tolerance and participation changed.

Functional Impact Beyond Mobility

Amputation may affect not only how someone moves — but how efficiently and sustainably daily life roles are performed.

In this case:

Long flights resulted in hip and back discomfort that reduced activity at the destination
Tasks requiring kneeling or floor-level activity required prosthesis removal
Household responsibilities required adaptation
Bathing and dressing required environmental or clothing modification

These changes introduced new support needs despite stable prosthetic use.

Secondary Effects That Often Emerge

Over time, compensatory movement patterns may contribute to:

Back pain
Contralateral joint strain
Postural adaptations
Upper extremity loading
Chronic fatigue

Psychosocial changes may also occur, including reduced participation in prior social or recreational roles.

Later in life, prosthetic use itself may decline due to cumulative orthopedic impact.

Planning Implications

Future care needs in amputation cases may extend beyond device replacement and include:

Ongoing prosthetic adjustment
Skin management
Mobility alternatives when prosthetic tolerance fluctuates
Environmental adaptations
Activity pacing strategies
Psychosocial support

A planning approach focused solely on prosthetic provision may not capture the full trajectory of functional impact.

Questions Attorneys May Consider

When reviewing life care planning in amputation cases:

Is functional endurance evaluated, not just device access?
Are secondary orthopedic risks addressed?
Does planning account for variability in prosthetic tolerance?
Are long-term participation changes considered?

Closing Perspective

Effective life care planning in amputation cases looks beyond the device to the evolving realities of daily function.

For attorneys evaluating future needs, the critical question is not simply:

“Will a prosthesis be provided?”

—but—

“How will limb loss continue to influence function over time?”

Understanding this distinction may be essential when assessing long-term care needs.

Turning Point Life Care Planning provides life care planning and plan review services in matters involving limb loss and long-term functional impact.

Meet Our Expert

Elisa Marks, MS, OTR/L, CEAS, CHT, CLCP
Occupational Therapist | Certified Life Care Planner | Certified Hand Therapist

Elisa Marks is a Certified Life Care Planner and nationally recognized occupational therapist with nearly 30 years of clinical experience and over a decade providing expert opinions. She is dual-credentialed as a Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) and Ergonomic Assessment Specialist (CEAS), with specialized expertise in upper extremity injuries, pain syndromes, and the long-term rehabilitation needs that arise from orthopedic, rheumatologic, and neurologic conditions.

Why Life Care Plans Differ — and What to Look For

Life care planning is grounded in established methodology, yet its application can vary. Careful attention to how needs are analyzed and projected over time can help clarify the basis for differing conclusions in catastrophic injury cases.

Why Life Care Plans Differ — and What to Look For

Key Insight

Life care plans may differ even when prepared by qualified experts because the methodology used to analyze functional impact, environmental context, and long-term needs can vary. Understanding how impairments are translated into functional limitations helps clarify why projections differ and how reliable a life care plan may be.

Life care plans are often central to discussions of future need in catastrophic injury cases — yet equally qualified experts can produce very different projections.

When this occurs, the difference is rarely explained by credentials alone.

More often, it reflects differences in methodology.

Understanding how a life care plan is developed — not just what it contains — can assist in evaluating its reliability.

A Structured Approach to Long-Term Need

Life care planning has historically been described as a consistent methodology for analyzing needs arising from disability across the individual’s life expectancy.

At its core, the process is intended to identify:

The impact of a health condition
The resulting functional implications
The services or supports that may be required over time

Recommendations are driven by identified needs rather than funding availability.

Moving Beyond Diagnosis

A diagnosis describes a medical condition. A life care plan addresses how that condition affects daily function and participation.

A commonly used clinical framework considers:

Impairment → Activity Limitation → Participation Restriction

This reflects:

Changes in body structure or function
Effects on task performance
Impact on real-world roles and engagement

Individuals with similar diagnoses may experience very different functional implications.

Individualized vs. Generic Planning

Life care plans are intended to be individualized.

This typically involves consideration of:

Functional presentation
Environmental context
Available supports
Anticipated interactions between condition and daily life

Rather than applying uniform assumptions, planning may reflect the individual’s circumstances and environment.

Lifespan Considerations

Long-term needs may evolve over time.

Planning often considers:

Anticipated functional change
Secondary effects associated with long-term disability
Environmental transitions
Shifts in independence

Accordingly, life care plans are generally regarded as dynamic documents that may be updated as circumstances change.

The Role of Environment

Needs may be influenced by:

Living environment
Access to services
Transportation
Work or educational settings
Community participation

Incorporating environmental context can help align projections with daily life.

Consistency of Methodology

A consistent methodology involves:

Comprehensive assessment
Data analysis
Use of available clinical and outcome information
Consideration of long-term needs across life expectancy

Consistency refers to the analytical process — not to uniform recommendations across cases.

Questions That May Assist Review

When reviewing or retaining a life care planning expert, attorneys may consider:

How are impairments translated into functional impact?
How are activity limitations considered?
What assumptions were made regarding independence?
How are environmental factors incorporated?
Are potential secondary effects considered?
How does the plan address change over time?

These questions do not favor a particular outcome, but may help clarify how projections were developed.

Applying Methodology in Litigation

When life care plans differ, the underlying methodology often explains why.

Evaluating how projections were developed — including assumptions, functional translation, and consideration of long-term impact — can assist in understanding the basis for differing conclusions.

In some matters, additional analysis may be helpful to:

Clarify methodological assumptions
Evaluate consistency with standards of practice
Examine functional implications
Assess alignment between projected services and individualized need

Legal teams on either side may seek this type of review when:

Evaluating an opposing life care plan
Responding to differing projections
Clarifying areas of agreement or disagreement

In some instances, even the retaining party may request an independent review when an existing plan raises questions regarding assumptions, scope, or functional alignment.

Closing Perspective

Whether developing a life care plan or reviewing an existing one, attention to methodology can help ensure projections reflect individualized need rather than generalized assumptions.

Turning Point Life Care Planning provides life care planning and life care plan rebuttal services to assist legal teams in evaluating long-term needs across a range of injury types.

The Occupational Therapy Role in Life Care Planning

Key Insight

Life care planning is most effective when it reflects how an individual truly functions in daily life. Occupational therapists contribute a critical perspective by evaluating function, environment, and participation—and by taking the time to understand the full picture of how an injury impacts everyday living.

The Occupational Therapy Contribution

Occupational therapists assess how injury or illness affects an individual’s ability to function across daily activities, including:

Activities of daily living (ADLs)
Instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs)
Cognitive and physical performance
Environmental barriers and supports
Safety, independence, and endurance

This evaluation extends beyond diagnosis to include how the individual actually lives, moves, and performs tasks over time.

As outlined in the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Scope of Practice, occupational therapists are autonomous practitioners responsible for evaluation, clinical reasoning, and intervention planning.

Within this scope, occupational therapists provide independent clinical opinions regarding:

Therapy needs (type, frequency, duration)
Orthotics and splinting
Assistive technology and adaptive equipment
Mobility devices, including wheelchairs and positioning systems
Home health aides and attendant care
Case management needs
Home modifications and accessibility
Community mobility and transportation

These opinions are grounded in functional performance, activity analysis, and environmental context.

Taking the Time to Understand the Whole Picture

A consistent theme we hear from attorneys and clients is:

“Thank you for taking the time to get to know our client.”

This reflects a core component of occupational therapy practice.

A meaningful evaluation requires more than a brief interaction. It involves:

Observing how tasks are completed—not just whether they can be completed
Understanding variability in performance across the day
Identifying compensatory strategies and limitations
Evaluating safety, efficiency, and sustainability of function
Considering the interaction between physical, cognitive, and environmental demands

This process is grounded in time, observation, and clinical reasoning—all necessary to understand the full impact of injury on daily life.

Attorney Perspective

“The life care plan was thorough, well-supported, and easy to follow. We especially appreciated the time taken to meet with the family and understand their real-world challenges. That in-person evaluation was clearly reflected in the report, including the impact of the injury on daily functioning and family dynamics.”

— Attorney Feedback

Evaluating Function in Context

When appropriate, an in-home assessment provides direct insight into how an individual functions within their environment.

This allows for evaluation of:

Mobility within the actual living space
Environmental barriers to independence
Transfer safety and fall risk
Caregiver involvement and physical demands
Practical use of equipment and adaptive strategies

However, even when in-home assessment is not feasible, the focus remains the same.

Through comprehensive virtual evaluation, record review, and structured interview, occupational therapists continue to assess:

how the individual functions within their real-world environment—not just in a clinical setting.

This emphasis on context aligns with the AOTA framework, which recognizes that performance is shaped by the interaction between the individual, the task, and the environment.

From Evaluation to Recommendations

Occupational therapy recommendations are derived from:

Direct observation (when available)
Functional assessment and activity analysis
Clinical reasoning within scope of practice
Consideration of long-term participation and safety

This includes recommendations related to:

Independent living supports
Equipment and assistive technology
Environmental modifications
Ongoing therapy and rehabilitation needs

These are core components of occupational therapy practice and are essential to developing a life care plan that reflects real-world needs over time.

Collaboration Within Scope

Life care planning is interdisciplinary, and occupational therapists collaborate with physicians and other providers.

Within their professional scope, occupational therapists contribute:

Function-based analysis
Contextual evaluation
Independent clinical judgment regarding daily living needs

This ensures that recommendations are informed not only by diagnosis, but by how the individual functions in daily life.

Conclusion

Occupational therapy brings a distinct and essential perspective to life care planning—one grounded in function, context, and participation.

By taking the time to understand the individual and the full picture of their daily life, occupational therapists develop recommendations that are:

Clinically supported
Functionally accurate
Contextually relevant
Reflective of real-world needs

At its core, this approach ensures that the life care plan represents not just the injury—but how that injury impacts everyday living over time.

About the Author

Tracy L. Travis, OTD, OTR/L, CLCP
Occupational Therapist & Certified Life Care Planner
Founder, Turning Point Life Care Planning

Dr. Travis has experience in the development of life care plans and the application of occupational therapy principles within medical-legal contexts. Her work focuses on functional assessment, long-term care considerations, and the integration of clinical findings into structured planning frameworks.

Publications & Presentations

Travis, T.L. Transitioning to New Areas of Practice In Jacobs, K., & McCormack, G. (Eds.), The Occupational Therapy Manager (6th ed., AOTA Press)
Life Care Planning: An Emerging Area for Occupational Therapists Presented at the American Occupational Therapy Association Conference

How to Vet a Life Care Planner: A Practical Guide for Attorneys

Key Insight

Selecting the right life care planning expert can significantly affect the credibility of future care projections in litigation. Attorneys should evaluate certification, clinical experience, professional engagement, and methodology to ensure the life care planner provides defensible and well-supported analysis.

When a case clearly warrants a life care plan, the name of an “expert” often arrives by way of a colleague’s recommendation. A curriculum vitae (CV) may or may not be attached. The real question is:

Will this life care planner truly help – or quietly weaken – your case?

This guide outlines the key qualifications, credentials, and professional activities to look for when evaluating whether a life care planner will provide defensible, trial-ready work for your client.

Section 1: Certification Matters

Is the expert a Certified Life Care Planner?

Life care planning is a distinct profession with its own:

Standards of practice
Certification processes
Peer-reviewed journals and textbooks
National conferences and continuing education

“Life Care Planner” is a trademarked title used by professionals who are certified by:

Physicians who are certified as life care planners through ICHCC must also meet defined criteria and training standards.

A certified life care planner receives dedicated training in:

Life care planning methodology
Standards of practice
Ethical guidelines
The process required to develop a replicable, defensible life care plan

Section 2: Experience Counts

Does the life care planner have relevant clinical and forensic experience?

Certified life care planners must have at least three years of relevant rehabilitation experience, but the quality and focus of that experience also matter.

Key questions to consider:

Does the CV show hands-on experience with the type of injuries in your case (e.g., TBI, SCI, burns, pediatric conditions, chronic pain)?
Do they have continuing education specific to the population at issue?
Have they worked in settings that mirror your client’s anticipated needs (e.g., acute rehab, outpatient neuro, pain management, pediatrics)?
Do they have forensic experience (report writing, deposition, trial testimony)?

Section 3: Professional Engagement in Life Care Planning

Are they actively involved in the life care planning profession?

Understanding the history, standards, and evolving practices of life care planning is fundamental to expert credibility.

Look for evidence that the planner:

Is a member of IARP (International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals)
Reads the Journal of Life Care Planning
Attends life care planning conferences, workshops, or webinars
Participates in professional discussion groups or continuing education specific to disability and rehabilitation

Section 4: Membership in Disability-Specific Organizations

Do they stay current with diagnosis-specific standards and guidelines?

Beyond professional planning organizations, credible experts also monitor or participate in organizations relevant to the populations they evaluate, such as associations for:

Brain injury
Spinal cord injury
Chronic pain and neurological disorders
Pediatric rehabilitation and developmental disabilities

Section 5: Contribution to the Profession

Do they contribute to advancing the field?

Professionals who publish, present, or teach within the field typically:

Have a deeper grounding in methodology and standards
Communicate clearly and effectively
Are more prepared to educate a judge or jury about the life care plan

Section 6: Specialization and Case Fit

Do they have the right expertise for this specific case?

Many experts build specialized experience, such as in:

Traumatic brain injury
Spinal cord injury
Pain and orthopedic injuries
Pediatrics and developmental disabilities
Burns and reconstructive care
Amputations
Psychiatric and behavioral health

Matching the expert to the case is essential for credibility and reliable cost projections.

Section 7: Establishing a Proper Medical Foundation

How does the planner establish the medical basis for their opinions?

Life care planners are trained neither to:

Simply list costs for others’ recommendations, nor
Make unsupported or independent medical recommendations

A defensible plan requires a clear medical foundation supported by:

Comprehensive review of medical records
Communication with treating and evaluating clinicians
Clinical practice guidelines and evidence-based resources
Review of relevant testimony when available

Section 8: How Turning Point Life Care Planning Meets These Standards

Turning Point Life Care Planning maintains a team of highly qualified Certified Life Care Planners who meet all of the criteria identified above.

Our team includes:

Occupational Therapists (OTs)
A Certified Hand Therapist (CHT)
A Nurse Practitioner specializing in orthopedics and spine
A Certified Work Capacity Evaluator (CWCE)

We work collaboratively to ensure accurate consideration of functional capacity, long-term medical needs, equipment, and community integration over the lifespan.

Section 9: Next Steps – If You’re Evaluating a Case Now

If you have a case that may benefit from a life care plan — or if you are unsure whether the injuries rise to that level — we are available to consult.

Ways to get started:

Email securely to services@tplcp.com
Call 1-877-TOP-LCPS or 323-426-3203 (Los Angeles Headquarters)
Request a brief case screening to determine whether a life care plan or additional assessment would be appropriate

Life Care Planning

Understanding Life Care Planning Methodology

Key Insight

Life care planning uses a structured methodology to evaluate the current and future needs of individuals with catastrophic injuries or chronic health conditions. Through comprehensive assessment, collaboration with medical providers, and evidence-based analysis, life care planners develop projections for services, supports, and associated costs across the individual’s lifetime.

Life Care Planning as a Professional Discipline

Life care planning is a profession with its own standards of practice, certified professionals, with peer-reviewed journals, textbooks, and annual conferences. “Life Care Planner” is a trademarked term to be used by those who are certified by the International Commission on Health Care Certifications or ICHCC. When a life care plan is developed using a methodology consistent with the standards of practice for life care planners the plan should be able to be replicated by another life care planner.

Life Care Planning is a transdisciplinary practice. To be a Certified Life Care Planner is to be an experienced rehabilitation professional licensed to practice within a healthcare profession, e.g. Register Nurse (RN), Occupational Therapist (OT), Physical Therapist (PT), Vocational Counsellor or a Medical Doctor (MD). Certification requires 120 hours of education specific to the practice of life care planning, a certification exam and submission of a life care plan to be approved by the ICHCC board. Continuing education in life care planning is required to maintain certification. The education must include a component on ethics.

What Is a Life Care Plan?

A Life Care Plan is defined as “a dynamic document based upon published standards of practice, comprehensive assessment, data analysis, and research, which provides an organized, concise plan for current and future needs with associated costs for individuals who have experienced catastrophic injury or have chronic health care needs.” (International Conference on Life Care Planning and the International Academy of Life Care Planners. Adopted 1998, April.) It is a way to plan for the lifetime needs of an individual with a disability.

Use of Life Care Plans in Litigation

Life Care Plans are often used in a forensic setting to help resolve personal injury cases where an individual has sustained an injury at the fault of another person. The subject of the life care plan is referred to as an evaluee. The life care plan is intended to be educational and written so that the plan is understandable by the lay person, using non-technical language which can realistically be implemented.

The Standard Methodology for Developing a Life Care Plan

The standard methodology used to develop a life care plan consists of step-by-step procedures which include: initial case intake, review of medical records and supporting documentation, interview with evaluee and a collateral interview (if appropriate, e.g. TBI), consultation with therapeutic team members, formulation of preliminary opinions, cost research, and confirmation of projections with the evaluee.

Home and Virtual Assessments

Best practice is to conduct the interview at the evaluee’s home; however, due to COVID-19 restrictions and individual preferences, a virtual assessment has become common practice. The home assessment enables the life care planner to consider the social and physical environment that may facilitate or restrict the evaluee’s function. For example, for an evaluee who uses a wheelchair, the need for home or vehicle modifications can be assessed; or for an evaluee with chronic pain, the need for ergonomic equipment or in-home rehabilitation may be considered.

Collateral Interviews

Especially when the evaluee has experienced changes in cognition, collateral interview with a family member, caregiver and/or a close friend will assist with determining the change in function since the subject event and the current level of care being provided. It is standard practice to replace the gratuitous support provided to the evaluee as it is not deemed a reliable source of long-term support.

Establishing the Medical Foundation

Given the transdisciplinary nature of life care planning, for areas of the plan that are outside the scope of practice of the life care planner, the life care planner relies on the medical records, consultation with the evaluee’s treating team members (e.g. specialist physicians, chiropractor, physical therapist, psychologist, etc.) or other experts involved with the case (e.g. orthotist, psychiatrist, physiatrist, etc.) to help develop the medical foundation for the life care plan.

The life care planner is not intended to be a “secretary” simply providing the cost of the recommendations or others; nor, are they intended to be a “know-it-all,” relying on themselves to provide the foundation for the entire life care plan. In forensic practice, the life care planner applies their knowledge and experience in life care planning to vet care recommendations to ensure each item in the life care plan is likely to be beneficial and appropriate for the evaluee, e.g. a recommendation for pool therapy is not appropriate for someone allergic to chlorine or if an evaluee who would have likely incurred the expense for a gym pass or childcare absent the subject event, they would not be entitled to be compensated for these expenses related to the subject event.

Costing and Categories of Care

The litigation process is usually the evaluee’s one shot at receiving the funding they require for future care; therefore, it is important that the pricing in a care plan be up-to-date, accurate and enable multiple options of providers within their geographical area. Collateral sources are not relied upon as a reliable source of lifetime funding.

There are 18 standard categories of care considered in a life care plan which include: medical services, evaluations, medications, therapies, orthotics and prosthetics, wheelchair equipment, wheelchair maintenance, aides for independent living, home modifications, health maintenance and leisure, vocational/education.

Given the potential longevity of the life care plan, e.g. decades, the life care planner provides accurate and geographically specific costing. It is of no help to the evaluee or their caregivers to provide resources that do not provide the intended services, e.g. a case manager who does not work with individuals under the age of 65 with a TBI but specializes in geriatric case management. Providing backup documentation for the resources is best practice and allowed by the majority of subscription fee reference databases given the forensic application.

The Goal of a Life Care Plan

The goal of each life care plan is to assist the evaluee is to restore function where possible; maintain function and prevent or reduce the risk of secondary complications, e.g. falls, pressure sores, etc. The plan details the services and charges for the services needed by the evaluee over the course of their lifetime.

Alternatives for care take into account the developmental stages of the evaluee and the least restrictive environment. The life care planner must be willing and available to communicate the life care plan and objectives to the evaluee and the relevant parties, e.g. attorneys, judge and/or jury.