LIFE CARE PLANNING SERVICES
The Life Care Plan is developed for estimating the future costs of the medical and non-medical needs of a person with a catastrophic injury or chronic debilitating illness that has changed the way that individual functions in, and relates to, the outside world. Some examples are:
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Burns
- Cerebral Palsy
- Birth Injuries
- Neurological Disorders
- Amputations
- Chronic Pain
- Progressive Debilitating Diseases
The Life Care Plan is a detailed outline of current and future medical, psychological, educational and vocational needs, and projects the costs of those needs annually over the individual's life span.
The 'Certified Nurse Life Care Planner' recognizes that some injuries and illnesses destabilize with age and disease process, therefore the Life Care Plan should be applicable to the entire continuum of care.
The 'Certified Nurse Life Care Planner' will integrate information gained from many sources into the life care plan, including;
- Home Visits With The Patient and Family
- Medical Records, Progress Notes, Documentation of
Past Care - Discussions With Past and Present Health Care Providers
- Extensive Training and Education About The Injury
or Illness - Comprehensive Knowledge of Appropriate Services
and Equipment
The 'Certified Nurse Life Care Planner' is then able to accurately establish and quantify the individual's needs and future needs to maintain functional status, and assist in prevention of potential complications.
THE NURSING PRACTICE ACT” AND “THE NURSING PROCESS”
The Regulation section of each state's "Nursing Practice Act" defines the responsibilities of al professional nurses, regardless of the setting. One of the goals of professional nurses is to achieve positive patient outcomes that maximize the quality of life over the entire life span.
Professional nurses utilize a process of critical thinking known as "The Nursing Process". This allows Certified Nurse Life Care Planners to make nursing diagnoses and provide rationale for each recommendation.
The Life Care Plan, made by a Certified Nurse Life Care Planner, is rarely challenged and is an excellent tool for settlement negotiations.