Course Description

Specialty Rehab is the source for your rehabilitation education, focusing on oncology rehabilitation services and grounded in more than 28 years of oncology mastery. Our objective is to furnish Occupational, Physical, and Speech-Language practitioners with solutions designed to match your specific requirements. Our comprehensive oncology rehab educational training covers all aspects of cancer care, from diagnosis to end of life, encompassing physical, emotional, and psychosocial support. 

  • chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy
  • cancer-related fatigue 
  • pain
  • falls
  • oncological emergencies
  • distress management
  • palliation
  • cancer-related cognitive impairment

You’ll leave this course with a comprehensive understanding of these side effects and be able to develop a plan of care to provide optimal care to any patient living with cancer. 

Course curriculum

    1. Cancer-Related Fatigue (CRF) - (printable material)

    2. Course Instructions

    3. Chapter 1: Lesson 1- Introduction: What is CRF? Statistics, Definition, Symptoms, Possible Causes, Contributing Factors, NCCN Guidelines for Treatment

    4. Chapter 1, Lesson 2 - Exercise as Treatment: Benefits, Current Recommendations (ASCM Guidelines)

    5. Chapter 1: Lesson 3 -Psycho-Behavioral Treatment: NCCN guidelines (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, Supportive Therapies and Sleep Hygiene)

    6. Chapter 1: Lesson 4 - Treatment & Considerations: (Modify-Engage-Adapt) Steroid Myopathy, Bone Integrity, Vital Signs, Lab Values, and Lymphedema

    7. Chapter 1: Lesson 5 - Evaluation: Self-Report Measures, Functional Outcome Measures, Documentation Guidelines, Creating an Individualized Plan of Care

    8. Chapter 1, Lessons 1-5: Cancer-Related Fatigue Quiz

    1. Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy - (CIPN) - (printable material) Acute/Chronic

    2. Chapter 2: Lesson 1 -CIPN - Agents & Presentation: Statistics, Diagnosis, Common Neurotoxic Drugs, Signs/Symptoms and Impact on Function

    3. Chapter 2: Lesson 2 - CIPN - Evidence -Based Outcome Measures, Evaluation & Treatment

    4. Chapter 2, Lessons 1 and 2 - CIPN Quiz

    1. Oncologic Emergencies (Printable Material)

    2. Chapter 3: Lesson 1 - Oncologic Emergencies: Definition, Risk Factors, Signs/Symptoms and Clinical Considerations

    3. Chapter 3: Lesson 2 Hematological Emergencies: Febrile Neutropenia, Disseminated Intravascular Coagulopathy, Leukostasis, and Hyperviscosity

    4. Chapter 3, Lessons 1 and 2 - Hematological Emergencies Quiz

    5. Chapter 3: Lesson 3 -Cardiopulmonary Emergencies: Superior Vena Cava Syndrome, Malignant Pericardial Effusion, Malignant Pleural Effusion, and Airway Obstruction

    6. Chapter 3, Lesson 3 - Cardiopulmonary Emergencies Quiz

    7. Chapter 3: Lesson 4 - Metabolic Emergencies: Hypercalcemia, Tumor Lysis Syndrome, and Hyponatremia

    8. Chapter 3, Lesson 4 - Metabolic Emergencies Quiz

    9. Chapter 3: Lesson 5 - Neurological Emergencies: Increased Intracranial Pressure (ICP), Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression

    10. Chapter 3: Lesson 6 - Skeletal Emergencies: Bone Metastasis (Osteoblastic, Osteolytic, Mixed) Precautions for Bone Mets

    11. Chapter 3, Lessons 5 and 6 - Neurological & Skeletal Emergency Quiz

    12. Chapter 3: Lesson 7 - Safety Considerations: Labs, Vitals, Cognition, Edema, and Infection

    13. Chapter 3, Lesson 7 - Safety Considerations Quiz

    1. Falls in the Oncology Population (printable material)

    2. Chapter 4, Lesson 1 Falls in Oncology- Statistics, Risk Factors, Contributing Factors and More

    3. Chapter 4: Lesson 2 -Fall Risk Identification, Screenings, Self-Report Questionnaires, Mitigation, Evaluating and Treating

    4. Chapter 4, Lessons 1 and 2 - Falls in Oncology Quiz

    1. Distress, CRCI, Pain & Palliative Care (printable materials)

    2. Chapter 5: Lesson 1 - Distress, Statistics and Screening

    3. Chapter 5: Lesson 2 - Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairments

    4. Chapter 5, Lessons 1 and 2 - Distress, CRCI, Pain & Palliative Care Quiz

    1. Chapter 6: Lesson 1 - CIPN, Distress & Pain Lab, Compensatory Strategies for ADL/IADL, with Client Education

    2. Chapter 6, Lesson 2 - Lab: Manual Lymphatic Techniques, and Deep Pressure Massage CIPN

    3. Chapter 6, Lesson 3 - Lab Breathwork for Stress Reduction

    4. Chapter 6, Lesson 4- CIPN, Distress and Pain Lab

About this course

  • $149.00
  • 42 lessons
  • 9.0 contact hours
  • Intermediate Level

Earn CEUs and become the therapist you'd trust to treat your loved ones!

  • Learning Materials

    Printable learning materials and course access, including labs for 90 days after enrollment. Take it, learn it, and apply it.

  • Interactive

    Interactive case studies with Q&A live, via Zoom. 2nd Tuesday of every month 8:00 to 9:30 pm EST.

  • Certificate & CEUs

    9.0 contact hours with certificate of completion.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Who is this course intended for?

    This course is an intermediate level course best suited for clinicians with prior oncology experience. It is designed for OT, OTA, PT, and PTA, but any healthcare provide would benefit.

  • Is there a pre-requisite for this course?

    This course is an intermediate level course. If you have no prior experience in oncology rehabilitation, we suggest you start with our Intro to Oncology - The Patient Experience.

  • What topics will be covered?

    We cover a wide range of topics, including chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, cancer-related fatigue, pain, falls, oncological emergencies, distress managment, palliation, and cancer-related cognitive impairments. Upon completion you will have the skills to create a plan of care for a complex patient living with cancer.

  • How is the course structured?

    The course content is delivered though a combination of self-paced learning modules, quizzes, interactive case study review and discussion via Zoom.

  • What are the certification requirements?

    To earn a certificate of completion you must complete the self-paced curriculum, achieve 80% or better on all quizzes, participate in the Zoom session case study with discussion, and complete the course evaluation. After all requirements are completed your certificate will be emailed.

  • When are the Zoom sessions held?

    Zoom sessions are held to on the 2nd Tuesday of every month, 8 to 9:30 pm EST

  • What if I cannot attend the Zoom session?

    You will have access to the course for 90 days after enrollment to attend at least one live session.

  • Is there an opportunity for interaction and discussion with other learners?

    Yes, You are required to participate in a Zoom session to discuss case studies and further your learning.

  • Is the content of this course applicable outside the scope of my license ?

    No, please note that the content is not intended for use outside your scope of practice, licensure and state regulations.

Instructor(s)

DPT, PhD, CLWT Erin Helm

Erin acted as director of oncology rehabilitation for a large cancer center prior to joining SRI in 2021 to provide consulting and educational development. Erin also serves as adjunct faculty at Widener University, providing Oncology Rehabilitation education and continues to provide physical therapy services to individuals with cancer. She is primary author of four peer-reviewed articles and recently received the 2021 American Physical Therapy Association’s Oncology Stephen Gudas Award for Outstanding Publication in Rehabilitation Oncology.

OTR/L, CLT, CLWT Lisa Marshall

With more than 33 years of healthcare experience, Lisa has focused primarily on oncology for the past 28 years. In 2002, she founded Specialty Rehabilitation Inc. (SRI), where she developed and provided oncology programs and services -- prehabilitation through palliation -- for all cancer types. Lisa's areas of expertise include the management of breast cancer, oncology lymphedema, cancer-related fatigue, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, cancer-related cognitive impairments, cancers of the head and neck, and oncology pelvic floor dysfunction. She is lymphedema certified, a national presenter, and a regular presenter at major healthcare institutions and universities. Today, SRI provides oncology education and consulting for; individual healthcare professionals, cancer centers, community hospitals, outpatient clinics, skilled nursing facilities, and home care agencies.

Course Objectives

  • The participant will create a comprehensive evidence-based plan of care utilizing a complex case study of an oncology patient.

  • The participant will identify one key component of evaluation necessary to discriminate progression to an oncologic emergency.

  • The participant will create a plan of care for an individual with history of falls, including management of steroid myopathy, and CIPN.

  • The participant will select 2 evidenced based functional outcome measures for evaluation of an individual with multiple co-occurring side effects from cancer treatment including steroid myopathy, CIPN, cancer-related fatigue and cancer- related cognitive impairment.

  • The participant will revise the patient’s plan of care with 2 appropriate exercise modifications for an individual with sensory, motor, or autonomic symptoms of CIPN.

  • The participant will select one treatment technique based on patients’ level of fatigue, and additional treatment related side effects including steroid myopathy and CIPN.

  • The participant will identify two contributing factors to cancer-related fatigue which require additional screening and referral.

  • The participant will identify symptoms of an oncologic emergency given a simulated case study with multiple comorbidities.

  • The participant will create a plan of care for a patient with active cancer undergoing palliative treatment, including management of cancer-related pain.

  • The participant will develop 3 short and 3 long term functional goals for a complex oncology patient utilizing objective measures.

Continuing Education Approval

Physical Therapists and PTA's

This course has been approved by the Maryland State and Texas State  Board of Physical Therapy Examiners for 9.0 Contact Hours

Maryland approval #2022-432,  Expires 04/22/2026.

Texas approval #78863 TX. Expires  04/17/2026

The course content and objectives meet criteria for approval within the following states and/or the approving agency/board indicates it will accept continuing education courses approved by another state APTA chapter or regulatory board: Alaska, Arizona, Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Washington.

Individual state boards and/or organizations may change their practice act/rules and regulations at any time. It is ultimately the responsibility of the licensee to confirm that the course meets criteria for contact hour approval.

Occupational Therapists and OTA's

This continuing education program has been approved by the Maryland Board of O.T. Practice  for 9.0 contact hours. Course approval #2025:0002. Expires 12/31/2025 - 

Our current policies and standards meet criteria for approval within the individual state and/or grants reciprocity with the following states: 

Arkansas, Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

Individual state boards and/or organizations may change their practice act/rules and regulations at any time. It is ultimately the responsibility of the licensee to confirm that the course meets criteria for contact hour approval.