Head & Neck Cancer Rehabilitation Course

PORi’s Head and Neck Cancer (HNCA) Rehabilitation course instructs Speech Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, and Physical Therapists in developing clinical management skills and treatment techniques needed to effectively deliver well structured, comprehensive oncology rehabilitation services to patients diagnosed with HNCA. A framework of the medical management of patients with HNCA is presented using National Comprehensive Cancer network (NCCNTM) guidelines and Commission on Cancer (CoC) guidelines, as well as case study examples, so that clinicians can integrate pathways of evaluation and treatment necessary to address the multitude of impairments presented in this medically complex group of patients.

The clinical management skills and techniques instructed in PORi are based on integrated treatment models designed to include a cross section of management from all three disciplines – Speech Language Pathology, Physical Therapy, and Occupational Therapy. These techniques are placed in the context of understanding the physiological and anatomical effects of cancer treatments including specific surgical interventions, chemotherapy regimens, radiation therapy, and adjuvant medications.

Careful study is made of the impact of cancer treatment on myofascial, skeletal, lymphatic, vascular, neural (central, cranial, peripheral), and aerodigestive systems, and the treatment protocols instructed by PORi relate to the optimal resolution of impairments within these body systems.

Myofascial trigger point release, joint mobilization, neural mobilization, superficial and deep lymphatic manual drainage, pain mitigation and functional restoration are instructed with the integration of all three disciplines throughout the course.

All of the clinical skill sets and techniques instructed within the PORi Oncology Rehabilitation Curriculum are derived from evidence-based clinical applications within the scope of Speech Language Pathology, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy practice. One of the more defining elements of PORi is the necessary physiological and anatomical knowledge unique to the oncology patient population, which is required by qualified practitioners to accurately and safely implement oncology-specific treatment plans and realistic goal-based outcomes for this patient population.

Live and/or Video Patient Presentations
Running 32hrs, the PORi Head & Neck Cancer Rehabilitation continuing education course includes patient case presentations of patients who have undergone a variety of treatments for head & neck cancer and present with a variety of conditions and side-effects relating to their cancer treatments. Patient presentations will run from between 60 minutes and 90 minutes via pre-recorded videos of patient treatments, technique demonstrations and patient interviews.

Course Requirements

Course participants must attend 90% of scheduled course hours
Each participant must sign in and out of the course each day
Each participant must complete the online post course exam

Examination
Within 7 days of the completion of the course, participants are required to complete a 90 minute written examination. There may also be a participant competency exam of 2 separate patient volunteers (arranged by PORi). Course participants will interview patient volunteers that will call in during the course and there will be a multidisciplinary clinical management implementation discussion. Understanding of techniques of oncology rehabilitation therapy and their application as well as an understanding of the effects of cancer treatments on the body’s systems will be tested. A passing grade (75%) is required for Continuing Education Units to be issued. Participants who do not pass the exam will be eligible to sit a supplementary exam.

Target Audience for the Course
Qualified and Licensed Speech Language Pathologists (Speech Therapists), Speech Language Pathologist Assistants, Physical Therapists (Physiotherapists), Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapy Assistants, and Certified Occupational Therapists are the target audience for the course.

Ratio of Instructor to Participants
In-person courses with live patient labs are limited to 16 people. All other course formats are variable depending on the facility hosts and instructor preference.

Head & Neck Cancer Rehabilitation - Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of the course, participants will be able to:

Describe H&N cancer pathogenesis and its correlation to the functional behavior of tumor cells, and how these elements of biology and physiology are shaping surgical, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and radiation therapy treatment regimens
Describe the Staging and Grading of H&N cancer pathology and the ensuing clinical foundation of management and elements of predictability of care from which Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists can generate clinical guidelines of practice
Identify the clinical elements of care to be included in H&N oncology rehabilitation for surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy as outlined in the scopes of practice within the professions of Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy
Explain the constructs of effectively documenting the H&N cancer disease process with multiple elements of acute, subacute and chronic treatment phases
Utilize appropriate, evidence-based Functional Assessment Tools, Outcome Measurement Tools for the evaluation and treatment of H&N cancer patient population
Recognize the signs and symptoms of H&N cancer disease progression and be able to effectively evaluate for differential diagnoses with bone metastases, lung & liver metastases and brain metastases
Implement Physical Therapist/Occupational Therapist clinical evaluation and treatment of myelosuppression, cancer related fatigue, cardiotoxicity, cachexia, and cognitive changes in patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment for H&N cancer
Utilize PORi protocols of management to effectively implement early intervention of Physical Therapist/Occupational Therapist treatment at each phase of H&N cancer related treatment - surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy - and provide a continuum of care across these phases of treatment and into long term survivorship
Effectively implement a H&N oncology rehabilitation program with the utilization of marketing skills, appropriate documentation skills that promote medical necessity and the need for skilled intervention, and appropriate guidelines of clinical evaluation and treatment

Head & Neck Cancer Rehabilitation

CEU Information

PORi CORE: Head & Neck CA Rehabilitation - Course Outline

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