A life care plan is a dynamic document based on published standards of practice, comprehensive assessment, data analysis, and research that 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.
The life care plan is developed in many instances to identify damages in civil cases involving liability. However, the general content of the plan prepared by the coordinator and by the professional completing a life care plan are essentially the same: they detail what maintenance services and support items a person with a disability would need to achieve optimal recovery during the post-injury period.
The life care plan should be a working document that provides accurate and timely information that can be easily used by the client and interested parties. The plan should be updated as needed and serve as a lifelong guide to assist in the delivery of health care services in a managed format.
If possible, the life care plan should be a collaborative effort among the various parties and it should reflect preventive and rehabilitative goals. As a dynamic document, the life care plan requires periodic updating to accommodate changes and should have as its goal quality outcomes.
The following are the goals of a life care plan :
1. To assist the client in achieving optimal outcomes by developing an appropriate plan to prevent complications and to restore function. This may include recommendations for evaluations or treatment that may contribute to the client’s level of wellness or provide information regarding treatment requirements.
2. To provide health education to the client and interested parties, when appropriate.
3. To develop accurate and timely cost information and specificity of service allocations easily used by the client and interested parties.
4. To develop options for care that may be necessary for other situations.
5. To communicate the life care plan and its objectives to the client and interested parties, when appropriate.
6. To develop measurement tools used to analyze outcomes.
7. To routinely develop comprehensive assessments of the projected goals of the life care plan, whenever possible.