Course Description:

This online video course introduces learners to head and neck cancers (H&N) and their treatment. It will provide an overview of the medical management of H&N cancers, including standard medical, radiation, and surgical oncology treatments. It will then outline the fundamental principles of cancer-specialty physical therapy (PT) and occupation therapy (OT), focusing on the evaluation and treatment of H&N cancer survivors in the outpatient setting. The course will provide an in-depth review of medical & rehab management specific to cancers of the oral cavity, oropharyngeal/pharyngeal, nasopharyngeal, laryngeal, thyroid, and parotid gland. Key topics, including prospective surveillance the need for interdisciplinary rehabilitation and patient advocacy, are integrated throughout the course and case study presentations. This approach to patient care is directed to maximize patient quality of life especially when a supportive or palliative rehab approach is utilized. The course will close with a review of appropriate documentation and billing practices for the PT and OT clinician treating head and neck cancer survivors to facilitate the translation of clinical knowledge into practice. Learner understanding will be assessed using post-course multiple-choice quizzes and applied in subsequent self-paced and live courses.