Guiding Principles for Successful Living after Total Laryngectomy - September 28, 2023
Course description:
Using a case-based approach, participants will discover how to best support patients in living successfully after total laryngectomy. Discussion will include how to apply an interdisciplinary approach to safety precautions during unplanned inpatient admissions, management/troubleshooting of tracheoesophageal voice prosthesis, stoma care and management of stomal attachments.
Course objectives:
1. Outline safety precautions for persons status post total laryngectomy following hospital re-admission.
2. Identify options for heat and moisture exchangers and stomal attachments necessary for pulmonary rehabilitation of the total laryngectomy.
3. Summarize an interdisciplinary approach to managing voice prostheses including routine care and troubleshooting
Webinar recording:
Speakers:
Laura N. Appelbaum, MA, CCC-SLP
Laura Appelbaum has been a clinical speech pathologist at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System for 10 years. While she provides services to a range of patient populations, she has always had a special interest in surgical airways, particularly patients post total laryngectomy. Throughout her time at VAPHS, Laura has played an active role in the education, care, and management of those with surgical airways. She has been a member of the VAPHS Surgical Airway Interdisciplinary Treatment Team where she assisted in the development of new surgical airway signage, order sets, as well as educational and reference materials for unit staff. She also provides direct education about surgical airway management to new CCM nursing staff during their orientation to VAPHS and to medical residents during rotation. Recently, Laura was selected by the Chief of VAPHS ASP to serve as a total laryngectomy subject matter expert on a national VA committee.
Disclosure: Laura Appelbaum has the following financial relationship or relationship affiliations to disclose: She is employed by VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System/U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs and receives a salary. She has no relevant non-financial relationships to disclose.
Samantha L. Clark, BS, RRT
Samantha Clark graduated from Gannon University in Erie, PA and has been a Respiratory Therapist going on 12 years. Throughout her practice, she has been affiliated with UPMC, AHN, Select Specialty, and VAPHS. She has a strong clinical background in adult critical care, level one trauma, burn management, emergency response, neurology, long-term care, pediatrics, neonatal, and the Covid-19 pandemic. Samantha has always been a hardworking therapist going above and beyond with bedside care, but never missed an opportunity to help educate patients, families, and staff members. She came to the VA in 2019 after wanting to ‘honor and care for those who have served.’ Once the pandemic slowed down, Samantha was ready for another purpose and joined the education department in January 2023 within the VA. While stepping away from bedside, Samantha continues to stay updated in the healthcare field, especially respiratory, and plans to provide purposeful classes to help healthcare providers to deliver excellent patient care.
Disclosure: Samantha Clark has the following financial relationship or relationship affiliations to disclose: She is employed by VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System/U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs and receives a salary. She has no relevant non-financial relationships to disclose.
Kalyn Kohler, RN
Kalyn Kohler has been a registered nurse for 12 years. Her nursing background includes critical care, emergency medicine, case management and most recently outpatient cardiology. Kalyn has worked at the VA for a total of six years. Four of those years included working in the stepdown unit of critical care. During that time, she cared directly for post-operative ENT patients specifically post-op laryngectomy. Kalyn provided direct care and education to veterans and their family prior to discharge home.
Disclosure: Kalyn Kohler has the following financial relationship or relationship affiliations to disclose: She is employed by VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System/U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs and receives a salary. She has no relevant non-financial relationships to disclose.
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