Hidden Price of Errors in Medical Chronologies for Life Care Planners

Medical chronologies include important details like when someone got injured, what treatments they received, and how their condition changed over time. For life care planners, these chronologies are the starting point for creating a care plan that meets the patient’s future needs.

But what happens when the medical chronology has mistakes? Maybe a surgery date is wrong, or a therapy session is missing. These errors might seem small at first, but they can lead to big problems for the planner, the patient, and even the legal team involved in the case.

How One Small Error Can Change Everything

Let’s take an example: a patient had a serious back injury in 2018 and underwent surgery in 2019. But the medical chronology mistakenly lists the surgery as having happened in 2021. This two-year gap can create confusion. 

The planner might assume the patient delayed treatment. The legal team might struggle to prove the injury was serious enough to deserve compensation, and the patient might not get the support they need. This kind of mistake doesn’t match the patient’s real situation. It could suggest fewer therapy sessions, less home care, or even no need for assistive devices. But the reality is the patient might be struggling every day.

What Mistakes Hurt the Case

Lawyers often rely on medical chronologies to show how much care the patient needs and how much it will cost. If the medical chronology has errors, the entire plan can be questioned. For example, if a hospitalization is missing from the chronology, the opposing lawyer might argue that the injury wasn’t as serious as claimed. This can lead to a lower settlement and can affect the reputation of the planner.

Delays and Extra Work: The Hidden Costs

When errors are found in a medical chronology, the care plan often has to be revised. This means going back through medical records, fixing mistakes, and sometimes rewriting large parts of the plan. It takes time, causes delays in legal cases, and can slow down the patient’s access to care.

How to Avoid These Mistakes

• Medical records are often long and detailed. Speed reviewincreases the chance of missing important information. Taking time to carefully read and understand each document helps you build a complete and accurate timeline.
• There are software tools that help organize medical record review, sort them by date, and highlight key details. These tools reduce manual work and help you avoid common mistakes.
• If you’re unsure about a diagnosis or treatment mentioned in the records, it’s best to ask a medical expert. Their insights can help you understand the patient’s condition better and make sure your chronology reflects the real condition.
• Before finalizing your plan, review the chronology carefully. Look for missing records and wrong dates. A second review, either by you or a colleague, can catch errors before they cause problems.

Why Outsourcing is a Smart Move?

Outsourcing medical chronology to professionals like LezDo TechMed frees up your time to focus on creating life care plans, working with clients, and preparing for legal cases. With a team of trained professionals, they know how to spot important details, understand complex medical terms, and organize everything into a clear, accurate chronology. LezDo TechMed follows strict review processes to make sure nothing is missed. Their work goes through multiple checks, which means fewer errors and more confidence in your final plan.