Life Care Planning Expert Witnesses
Critical insight into the cost of catastrophic injuries
Life care planners are professionals who specialize in assessing the current and future needs of individuals who have experienced catastrophic injuries or illnesses. The primary role of a life care planner is to develop a comprehensive plan to address the individual's long-term medical, rehabilitation, and support needs.
Life care planners analyze medical records, evaluate physical and cognitive capabilities, and interview healthcare providers. They create detailed plans that include recommendations for medical treatment, rehabilitation services, assistive technology, and other support services that will help the individual achieve their maximum level of independence and quality of life.
In the United States, life care planners typically have a nursing, social work, or occupational therapy background, usually with a graduate degree in healthcare administration or healthcare management. The job requires a thorough knowledge of medical record review, health care costs, workers’ compensation, and medical litigation. Additionally, most life care planners are certified by the International Commission on Health Care Certification (ICHCC) as a Certified Life Care Planner (CLCP).
The role of a life care planner as an expert witness and consultant
Life care planners are critical expert witnesses in cases involving catastrophic injuries and illnesses, including traumatic brain injuries (TBI), spinal cord injuries (SCI), loss of limbs, loss of vision or hearing, severe burns, and permanent orthopedic injuries, as well as severe mental and psychological injuries. In addition, if a plaintiff’s injury or illness is likely to require a lifetime of care, then a life care planner can provide invaluable insight into the nature and cost of that care.
Professional life care planners can provide testimony to support the injured individual's claim for compensation by detailing the types of ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, and support services that will be required to address the individual's needs – and conversely, determine whether a particular kind of care or service is not required to meet the patient’s needs. The life care planner can also provide a cost analysis of these services, which is critical for computing compensation.
In addition to providing trial testimony, life care planners work closely with injury attorneys to help them structure settlements for their clients’ needs within the applicable financial constraints and considerations.
The best in life care planning to assist the legal community
Especially in tough, hotly contested legal matters involving severe and catastrophic injuries, life care planners play a vital role. We’ve been helping America’s finest attorneys find the right medical expert witnesses for decades, and we take pride in providing the support and insight lawyers need from start to finish. Contact Rieback Medical-Legal Consultants today for a free case summary review.