Moving Forward with a Brain Tumour – How Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, and Speech Language Pathology Support Patients on an Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit

Moving Forward with a Brain Tumour – How Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, and Speech Language Pathology Support Patients on an Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit 

This presentation will provide an overview of the roles of Occupational Therapists (OTs), Physiotherapists (PTs) and Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) on an inpatient rehabilitation unit, working with people diagnosed with a brain tumour. Discussion will include how everyday function can be impacted by a brain tumour, how function is addressed on an inpatient rehabilitation unit by the various professions, clinical considerations, and the value of inter-professional collaboration to achieve the best outcomes prior to discharge from hospital.

Presented by:

Rammjot Saini

Rammjot is an Occupational Therapist (OT) on the inpatient rehabilitation unit at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital. She is dedicated to providing client-centred care in a collaborative manner and considers herself a life-long learner who is always seeking opportunities to grow as a clinician. Rammjot was one of the recipients of the 2022 Health Care Professional – Professional Development Grants and would like to thank the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada for their support! Rammjot believes in supporting individuals to achieve their full potential through the provision of optimal care and the application of evidence-based practices. She has experience working with clients across the lifespan, with a variety of diagnoses and conditions, including brain injury, in various practice settings.

Bansi Shah 

Bansi is a Physiotherapist (PT) in the inpatient rehabilitation unit at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital. She has had the opportunity to work with clients with the diagnosis of brain tumour in her inpatient rehabilitation setting. Bansi knows the importance of collaboration between different healthcare professionals to work towards a patient’s goals. She benefited from the generosity of Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada professional development grant. This allowed her to pursue a course in Neuro development techniques. Bansi has been able to apply her learning to better patient outcomes and lower the burden of care of family members of this vulnerable patient population.

Michelle Zuzarte

Michelle is a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) who has been working with adult clients in a variety of clinical settings for over 20 years in and around the Greater Toronto Area. Currently, she works on the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit at Halton Healthcare at the Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital providing 1:1 SLP assessment and treatment for patients with neurological conditions, including brain tumours.