A Comparison of Physiatrist Life Care Planners Versus Non-Life Care Planner Physiatrists’ Professional Opinions Regarding Secondary Complications of Spinal Cord Injuries

The specialization of life care planning continues to evolve through empirical research and periodic standards of practice symposiums. Within this evolution, the need exists towards advancing the profession through the creation of a universal and standardized approach among all who operate within the field of life care planning regarding when/when not to include secondary complication costs into a life care plan. Opposing life care planners (LCPs) are sometimes millions of dollars apart in projected costs, often generally attributed to the inclusion of such costs which may be possible (<51%) but not probable (>51%) from a life care planning certainty threshold. The current study surveyed two groups requesting their professional opinions on the frequency of occurrence for 12 most commonly occurring SCs following SCI. The two groups included 71 Physiatrist Non-LCPs (i.e., physiatrists not involved in life care planning) and 46 Physiatrist LCPs (i.e., physiatrists involved in conducting life care plans or who acted as a consultant). Results reveal physiatrist LPCs generally endorsed higher frequency ratings of SCs than Physiatrist Non-LCPs. Both groups reported a general consensus towards SCs as more likely to occur when lack of preventative health measures are not taken. Implications for life care planners are discussed.