Too Fragile for Rehab? Prehabilitation and Rehabilitation Programs for by Hematological Cancer Patients Undergoing Cellular Therapies Across the U.S.-Session Recording

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The session focused on establishing and developing prehabilitation (prehab) programs for patients undergoing treatments like bone marrow transplants (BMT) and CAR T-cell therapy. The presenters, including physicians from institutions like UNC and MD Anderson, discussed the growing necessity for prehab due to heightened vulnerability among older adults undergoing these therapies. Prehab aims to improve fitness levels before treatment, reducing post-treatment complications, length of stay, readmissions, and ultimately enhancing survival rates.<br /><br />The session encompassed several key themes:<br /><br />1. <strong>Importance of Prehab</strong>: Prehabilitation can improve outcomes by increasing patient strength and fitness levels before intensive treatments. It involves engaging patients in aerobic and resistance exercises, dietary improvements, stress management, and other supportive care measures to mitigate post-treatment declines and aid recovery.<br /><br />2. <strong>Collaborative Efforts</strong>: Cross-disciplinary collaboration among oncologists, physiatrists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, nutritionists, and social workers is crucial. Multidisciplinary teams work together to streamline the prehab process, providing comprehensive care focused on both physical and psychosocial needs.<br /><br />3. <strong>Program Implementation</strong>: Presenters shared experiences with forming prehab programs, emphasizing institutional buy-in, stakeholder engagement, and addressing logistical challenges. Programs were tailored to specific institutional contexts, patient demographics, and treatment types.<br /><br />4. <strong>Outpatient and Inpatient Coordination</strong>: Coordination between outpatient prehab initiatives and inpatient mobile rehab teams was highlighted. This included managing logistical challenges, like scheduling and financial concerns, and ensuring consistent follow-up and support post-treatment.<br /><br />5. <strong>Measuring Outcomes</strong>: Metrics like overall survival, non-relapsed mortality, quality of life, and physical function were emphasized for evaluating program efficacy. Institutions presented results showing improved patient outcomes tied to comprehensive prehab programs.<br /><br />The importance of customizing prehab initiatives according to available resources and patient needs was stressed, with ongoing assessments to refine approaches for optimized patient care.

Keywords

prehabilitation

bone marrow transplants

CAR T-cell therapy

fitness improvement

multidisciplinary collaboration

aerobic exercises

resistance exercises

program implementation

outpatient coordination

measuring outcomes

patient care optimization