Acute Care Case Study Reflections

June 4, 2025 at 7:30 - 8:30 PM 

Location: Zoom

Hosted by the Acute Care SIG

Case #1: Disorders of consciousness (DOC) refer to states in which an individual’s consciousness is altered. There is emerging research on how to best manage and treat patients experiencing a DOC. Traditional rehabilitation approaches are not as effective. Therapists must take into consideration a patient’s arousal and awareness when providing intervention, keeping in mind that each session may differ significantly. This course will provide a brief overview of DOC, describe various tools to assess for DOC, and discuss treatment options with a focus on principles of rehab for DOC. A case study will be included to illustrate just one example of rehab management of a patient with a DOC.

Case #2: The second case study explores the clinical course of a 59-year-old female patient who was initially admitted for a planned allogenic bone marrow transplant. Her hospitalization was complicated by the development of cardiac tamponade, which required a pericardiocentesis and the placement of a pericardial drain. The presentation will highlight the dynamic and critical role of physical therapy in the patient's plan of care. While the initial admission was expected to follow a routine therapy course, the patient’s condition changed significantly. Despite these unexpected complications, including complex cardiac impairments and the presence of less commonly encountered lines and attachments in this population, oncology physical therapists played a key role in safely mobilizing the patient throughout her recovery.

Speaker: Cassie Mountz, PT, DPT received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Arcadia University in 2016 and became a board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist in 2020. She has experience treating a variety of patients in both the outpatient and acute care settings. Cassie currently practices in acute care for WellSpan Health and is one of six full-time physical therapists embedded in the emergency department. She is also part of a small team providing acute postpartum PT services. When not working, Cassie enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, and reading.

Shannon Heck is an acute care physical therapist at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where she has practiced for over seven years. For the past five years, she has specialized in oncology care and currently serves patients in the Oncology/Medical Intensive Care and Bone Marrow Transplant Units. Shannon earned her Certified Lymphedema Therapist credentials through the Norton School in 2022 and is a graduate of the University of Scranton.

Contact Hours: 1 General Hour (Pending) 

Registration is free for members and a $10 fee for non-members. After registering, be sure to save your confirmation email, as it contains the Zoom link needed to join the event on the day.