Life Care Plan vs. Medical Chronology
Life Care Plan
Forward-looking projection of future medical and non-medical care costs across the claimant's expected lifespan (Arias et al., 2025).
Learn more about Life Care Plan →Medical Chronology
Backward-looking organized summary of the claimant's medical history drawn from treatment records.
| Dimension | Life Care Plan | Medical Chronology |
|---|---|---|
| Direction in time | Future (prospective projection) | Past (historical summary) |
| Primary output | Itemized plan with costs and frequencies | Date-organized narrative summary |
| Prepared by | CLCP with clinical background | Medical chronologist, often RN |
| Typical use | Damages quantification | Case understanding, deposition prep, expert support |
When to use Life Care Plan
Use a life care plan to quantify future care costs for trial, settlement, or mediation in catastrophic injury or chronic disease cases (International Academy of Life Care Planners, 2022).
When to use Medical Chronology
Use a medical chronology to summarize the record for internal review, deposition preparation, or to support other experts preparing opinions.
Where they overlap
Both rely on careful record review, and the same clinical record is often the primary source. The life care plan and chronology are complementary: the chronology informs the plan by establishing the clinical trajectory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should every catastrophic case have both?
Not categorically, but many benefit from both. The chronology is often assembled first and provides the clinical foundation for the life care plan.
References
- Arias, E., Xu, J., & Kochanek, K. D. (2025). United States life tables, 2023. National Vital Statistics Reports, 74(6), 1-63. National Center for Health Statistics. doi.orgGovernment
- International Academy of Life Care Planners. (2022). Standards of practice for life care planners (4th ed.). International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals. member.aanlcp.orgOrganization
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