294 – SLPs and Cancer: What’s our role?

Swallow Your Pride Podcast

Theresa Richard, MA, CCC-SLP, BCS-S

Education, Health & Fitness, Business, Careers, Medicine

4.8 • 899 Ratings

🗓️ 8 September 2023

⏱️ 50 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The word “cancer” is often cloaked in feelings of uncertainty and fear - understandably so. But what can a medical SLP do to help? What’s our role in the world of oncology?

In this podcast episode, host Theresa Richard interviews Heather George about her experience as an SLP working with oncology patients and the role of palliative care in dysphagia management. They discuss the challenges of navigating treatment for patients with complex medical conditions, the importance of taking a holistic approach to patient care, and the need to address patient concerns and fears. They also touch on the difficulties of managing differing opinions among healthcare providers.

If you serve this population or hope to one day, this episode is for you.

Get the show notes with references at syppodcast.com/294

[00:03:29] The role of palliative care in dysphagia management

[00:04:27] Understanding the differences between rehabilitation and palliative care

[00:06:53] Considering the medical status and prognosis in dysphagia management

[00:10:31] The multifactorial components of swallowing difficulties

[00:10:40] Highlighting the need to consider the patient's specific diagnosis and how it impacts their swallowing difficulties.

[00:13:09] Managing the dynamic between providers and dysphagia treatment

[00:20:32] Importance of reflecting on personal biases as clinicians and how it can influence communication with patients and physicians.

[00:21:37] The impact of presenting information in a fear-inducing manner and the importance of discussing risks and benefits in a balanced way.

[00:22:25] The speaker's personal experience of realizing the need to present both professional and personal perspectives when discussing treatment options with patients and their families.

[00:29:05] Understanding the Patient's Medical Condition

[00:30:06] Collaborating with the Medical Team

[00:32:16] Navigating Difficult Conversations

[00:38:20]Palliative Team Consultation

[00:39:42] Exploration of consulting the ethics department for added insight and evaluation in complex situations.

[00:40:43] Supporting Patients Transitioning to Hospice

[00:48:26] Being cognizant of language and writing in a more respectful and patient-centered way.

The post 294 – SLPs and Cancer: What’s our role? appeared first on Swallow Your Pride Podcast.

Transcript

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0:00.0	On this episode of the Swallier Pride Podcast, we have Heather George. She's an acute care
0:05.0	SLP at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center James Cancer Hospital.
0:10.0	She has earned Ash's Distinguished Early Career Professional Certificate in Ohio State University's Clinical Excellence Award for Excellence in High Standards and Clinical Care. Heather has had the opportunity to work in various settings, including acute care, inpatient rehab, outpatient, and long-term care. Her clinical interests include management of the palliative and hospice patient, as well as dysphagia and communication management for the medically complex, critically ill. I'm your host Teresa Richard. I'm a board
0:48.1	certified specialist in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders and
0:50.9	founder of the Medi SLP
0:53.0	and Med SLP education.
0:55.1	This podcast is dedicated to delivering the latest evidence-based practice
0:58.9	to medical SLPs everywhere,
1:00.8	while also recognizing that medical SLPs everywhere are doing the best with what they've got.
1:05.2	Whether you are a new clinician seeking tangible tools for therapy or a seasoned vet stuck in a rut,
1:11.1	my goal is simple to help you advance your practice without feeling overwhelmed or
1:15.1	underappreciated. This means that together will build confidence, broaden your knowledge,
1:20.0	and re-ignite your passion for our field. So if you're listening, I encourage you to swallow your pride
1:25.0	and be open to new ideas,
1:26.8	because at the end of the day,
1:28.2	you and your patients deserve that kind of support.
1:31.5	With that, let's dive in.
1:37.0	Just a quick disclaimer that all statements and opinions expressed in this episode do not reflect on the organizations associated with the
1:43.9	speakers and are their own opinions solely.
1:46.5	Hello Heather, hi. Thank you so much for joining me. Of course I'm so excited. Yeah, all right so tell the people a little bit about yourself.
1:56.4	Sure so I am Heather George. I am a speech pathologist in Columbus, Ohio. I work at the James
2:02.4	Cancer Hospital. I have been a practicing therapist for six years now, and I work with oncology patients. So the James Cancer Hospital has a unique setup. So we have an outpatient speech pathology team that also crosses over to acute care and they work with the head and neck cancer patients. And I cover all general oncology patients
	...

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