What is a Lifespan Planning Record?

Posted on | November 22, 2006 | Comments Off on What is a Lifespan Planning Record?

In this week’s Health Politics program, I discuss what I call a “Lifespan Planning Record.” You may not have heard this term before, but I’ve been talking it up over the last few months because I strongly believe it’s one of the key elements that will be involved in fixing our health care system and making us all healthier.

If you haven’t watched the HP video yet, you’re probably asking “What is a Lifespan Planning Record?” Well, I’d suggest that you at least download the video transcript for the full story, but I’ll go ahead and summarize it here…

A Lifespan Planning Record (or LPR) is what will be needed to bring our health records (paper, electronic, even ancestral information) in line with the health care system that will be developing over the next 10 years. This system of the near future — one that makes us feel connected, supported and in control of our health destiny — will require a constantly available “record” of our changing health status. This is where the LPR comes in. The LPR is a computer-based and integrated model that would provide a holistic view of an individual’s health — stretching back to his or her ancestors and projecting far forward into the future.

What’s the benefit of a record such as this? 1) It helps define health as a life fully lived — not just the absence of illness. 2) It will help us concentrate on preventive activities in health, instead of reactive and interventional ones. 3) It will make our health system safer because the information will be more reliable.

Implementing LPRs won’t be fast or easy — I know that. And there are many issues to be worked out. But I think lifespan planning and LPRs are necessary to our health and our health care system.

What do you think about Lifespan Planning Records? Do you have suggestions or concerns? I’d like to hear your thoughts — and if you need more information, take a look at this week’s Health Politics program. You might even want to get started on your own LPR.