Frequently Asked Questions
What is Life Care Planning?
Life care planning is a comprehensive, evidence-based process that projects the current and future medical, therapeutic, and assistive needs of individuals who have experienced catastrophic injuries or chronic health conditions. A life care plan serves as a detailed roadmap outlining the anticipated medical care, equipment, medications, and support services required over the individual’s lifetime, along with associated costs.
Life care plans are used in personal injury litigation, medical malpractice cases, workers’ compensation claims, and long-term care planning to ensure that injured parties receive appropriate compensation for their future medical needs.
What is a Physician Life Care Planner?
A Physician Life Care Planner is a board-certified medical doctor who has completed specialized training and certification in life care planning. This unique combination of active clinical practice and life care planning expertise allows physician life care planners to integrate real-world medical decision-making with evidence-based projections of future care needs.
Physician life care planners bring a clinical perspective that traditional life care planners cannot provide, including direct experience treating similar injuries and conditions, deep understanding of treatment outcomes and complications, ability to critically evaluate medical records and treatment recommendations, knowledge of current medical standards and emerging therapies, and expertise in medical cost forecasting based on actual clinical practice.
What is CPLCP™ Certification?
The Certified Physician Life Care Planner (CPLCP™) credential represents the highest level of certification available for physician life care planners. Awarded by the American Academy of Physician Life Care Planners™, this advanced certification requires an active medical license in good standing, board certification in a medical specialty recognized by ABMS or AOA, at least 10 years of active clinical practice, physician-specific life care planning training, demonstrated experience in life care plan development, comprehensive understanding of medical cost analysis and future care forecasting, as well as extensive testimony experience.
Fewer than 40 physicians globally hold the CPLCP™ designation, making it the most exclusive credential in the field of life care planning.
Why Choose a Physician Life Care Planner?
Physician life care planners offer distinct advantages including clinical credibility through active medical practice, medical expertise from board certification, ability to evaluate treatment appropriateness, cost accuracy based on clinical experience, expert testimony on medical causation and permanency, and comprehensive analysis that reflects actual clinical practice.
What Conditions Are Addressed?
Life care plans address a wide range of catastrophic injuries and chronic conditions, including Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI), Spinal Cord Injuries, Orthopedic Injuries, Chronic Pain Conditions, Amputation, and Burns.
How Are Future Medical Costs Calculated?
Future medical costs are calculated using evidence-based treatment protocols, current regional medical costs, life expectancy analysis, treatment frequency based on medical necessity, and geographic variation in healthcare costs.
How Long Does It Take to Complete a Life Care Plan?
Plans are typically completed between 6-12 weeks. Rush cases are available with advance coordination.
Are Life Care Plans Admissible in Court?
Yes, life care plans are widely accepted in state and federal courts when prepared by qualified experts. Physician life care planners with CPLCP™ certification meet the highest standards for expert qualifications and are frequently retained for both plaintiff and defense cases.
How Do I Get Started?
To request a life care plan or expert medical opinion, contact us for an initial consultation to discuss case details, injuries, timeline, and specific needs. We provide comprehensive records review, transparent fee schedules, detailed written reports with cost projections, and deposition and trial testimony support as needed.