TheOncoPT Podcast

She's baaaaaaack! That's right: Frannie Westlake, PT, DPT, NCS, is on TheOncoPT Podcast again to discuss how vestibular rehab fits into OncoPT & how we can make a difference for our patients, even without a boat load of vestibular experience! Follow the episode webpage link for the resources we discussed in today's episode!

You asked, & it's here! I've created an episode just on inservices - reasons to host an inservice, benefits of an inservice, & my own experience with my first inservice at work. I've even included 3 Must-Haves When Planning Your Inservice at the end of today's episode. Want more on planning an inservice? I've created a helpful handout you can download to guide your inservice planning, complete with THREE more must-haves you won't hear in the episode - download at the episode webpage!

Today's episode is so full of quotables - I was writing down words of wisdom from Ann during my entire editing process. I interviewed Ann H. Newstead, PT, DPT, PhD, GCS, NCS, CEEAA (whew!) for today's episode on #oncoPT abroad, her work with IPT-HOPE, & a brief foray into how HIV/AIDS fits into oncology physical therapy.

We made it to 20 episodes! Y'all, I am so excited & grateful for this first of many milestones & that y'all are with me on this journey. You, yes you, are my driving forces that encourage me to keep going, & I cannot wait to share more amazing interviews, education, & patient stories with y'all.

I've shared this story in person with some friends & colleagues, but haven't yet shared my motivation behind starting this podcast with you, my audience. Well, here goes:

One of the less glamorous parts of the job - firing a patient - will probably happen to all of us at some point in our careers. Interestingly, I never encountered this situation when I was a student, maybe because I was never at a clinical long enough to experience this or maybe because my patients fired me first. It wasn't until I started working as a #FreshPT that I had to fire my first patient. Was it pretty? Was it effective? Was it worth it? Listen to find out.

To continue March's Lymphedema Awareness Month, I'm discussing 4 lesser-known education topics that our patients need to be successful with their treatment & management of lymphedema.

Don't forget to grab your FREE lymphedema measurement sheets, lymphedema education sheets, & walking HEP on my resources page at www.theoncopt.com!

3:12 Manis & Pedis & Lymphedema

7:20 Not gonna let it diabeat-us

11:11 Road trip!

13:18 "You might have lymphedema, but lymphedema does not have you."

Today, I welcome Steve Wechsler, PT, DPT, NCS, & the current secretary of The Academy of Oncologic Physical Therapy to #TheOncoPTPodcast! We cover what the Academy is, how it's serving its members & our patients, & big goals for oncology rehabilitation here in the U.S. & internationally. We are professionally responsible to advocate for our profession & our patients, & being a member of the APTA & the Academy of Oncologic PT is a crucial way to do so.

Let's face it - there's not enough time in the day anyways, without adding extra documentation required for evaluations thrown in there. Luckily, I (& many others) have struggled through my evaluations & created/found tools that have decreased wasted time in initial evaluations, thus radically increasing the quality time I spend with my patients bonding & educating. Here are 4 FREE tools to make your evals easier - & you can find mine premade just for you at www.theoncopt.com/resources

This episode was so fun to record - Betty Westbrook & I are truly kindred spirits in so many ways, especially our passion for educating others! In today's episode, you'll hear us fan-girl over our favorite podcast (unbeknownst to us, it's the same podcast), geek out over some big names in the lymphedema world, & passionate (hopefully) persuade you to support the Lymphedema Treatment Act TODAY! Go do it. Now. Then finish listening to this episode!

It's a fact that you can indeed fan-girl in the PT world because that's how I met Dr. Amy Litterini. I doubt she remembers our first meeting (in which I fan-girled, for sure), but she was kind enough to stop by today's episode to discuss quite the variety of topics, including her early mentorship & how she is continuing to mentor & guide students today to become oncoPTs.

"Even on a bad day, they can do something." - Amy Litterini, PT, DPT