What does it take to build a life care plan that truly stands up to scrutiny? The IMS Legal Strategies Expert Voices in Life Care Planning series brings together IMS Head of Life Care Planning Amy MacKenzie, PhD, RN, CLCP, CCM, and four of our certified life care planners to answer that question. During their individual interviews, these experts share proven strategies for addressing catastrophic injuries, projecting future care needs, and ensuring medical and rehabilitative recommendations are grounded in sound methodology, not speculation.
From managing the complexities of pediatric cases and lifetime care projections to tackling the “unseen” challenges of mental health injuries, this series offers practical insights for both plaintiff and defense attorneys alike. Each conversation highlights the importance of collaboration, clinical expertise, and defensible planning in achieving optimal litigation outcomes.
Kerri Martin, MSN, RN, FNP-C, CLCP
With more than 25 years of nursing experience and a decade as a nurse practitioner, Kerri has a deep understanding of the healthcare system and the nuanced details that an injured individual may require for long-term care. She offers a unique perspective on analyzing complex medical records, anticipating future care needs, and distinguishing pre-existing conditions from injury-related requirements. She also explains why collaboration with treating physicians and vocational experts is critical for creating credible plans that provide holistic support for injured individuals.
Bryan Muench, MS, PT, CLCP
Bryan shares what makes pediatric life care planning cases unique, why assumptions in opposing plans matter, and how IMS experts ensure recommendations are grounded in evidence rather than guesswork. He also explains why some life care plans overreach and offers effective strategies for attorneys to identify and challenge those issues.
Kristy Easley, MA, CCC-SLP, CBIS, CLCP
Kristy details how her clinical roots in neurorehabilitation shape the development of defensible life care plans for both pediatric and adult cases. She explores practical strategies for establishing medical necessity, selecting care settings that best fit the individual and their family, and the evidence attorneys need to support “more likely than not” care recommendations, as well as when and how experts project lifetime needs for children.
Austyn Bailiff, MA, LCP, NCC, CLCP
Austyn explains practical, evidence‑based approaches for PTSD and chronic pain—like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)—that help individuals re‑engage with people, places, and routines. He also tackles the ethical problem of overtreatment, revealing why recommendations are usually targeted, appropriate, and time‑limited rather than drifting into indefinite therapy.
Discover how IMS's life care planning expertise can help strengthen your litigation strategy from start to finish. Meet all our life care planners and request a consultation below.
