Susan M. Eckhardt, MS, OTR/L – Director of Oncology Rehabilitation

As Director of Oncology Rehabilitation at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) at Eastern Regional Medical Center, Susan M. Eckhardt appreciates being able to deliver patient-centered cancer care.

“I have a personal and professional interest in contributing to changing the culture of health care delivery. Through the Patient Empowerment Medicine^SM model, CTCA enables me to continue that pursuit.  Here, patients are at the center of their treatment, and that includes oncology rehabilitation. The Oncology Rehabilitation Program at CTCA is person centered in a way that is changing the delivery of health care services,” says Eckhardt.

A licensed and registered occupational therapist, Eckhardt earned a Master of Science degree in health services administration from the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois. She holds a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Prior to joining CTCA, Eckhardt spent seven years as Director of Rehabilitation Services at Abramson Center for Jewish Life, a nursing home/assisted living facility in North Wales, Pennsylvania. Prior to this position, Eckhardt served as Senior Occupational Therapist at Temple Continuing Care Center in Philadelphia. Before that, she spent eight years as a Senior Occupational Therapist at the Philadelphia Geriatric Center.

Eckhardt has delivered numerous presentations on a variety of topics, such as long-term care, occupational therapy, patient-centered care, and geriatrics. Eckhardt has also co-authored several publications on topics ranging from dementia management, to home services for family caregivers, to occupational therapy practice.

Eckhardt joined the Oncology Rehabilitation Department at CTCA at Eastern Regional Medical Center in March 2008. When asked what she likes best about working at CTCA, Eckhardt says: “CTCA gives me the opportunity to serve a very unique patient population. These are people who are in the fight of their life. How CTCA treats them is unique.” 

Eckhardt and the rest of the oncology rehabilitation team at Eastern work collaboratively with other CTCA clinicians to complement patients’ conventional cancer treatments with rehabilitation therapies. “Rehab joins physicians, nurses, care managers and the other CAM professionals, such as naturopathy, mind-body and nutrition, to deliver services that are meaningful and beneficial to people fighting cancer,” says Eckhardt.

“The people who work at CTCA are special. They are friendly and supportive, united in providing the best care possible to patients. Everyone is focused on patient care," she adds.

The rehabilitation team helps teach patients ways to overcome physical deficits and cancer-related fatigue. Through the Motion for Life Program, Eckhardt and her team help patients identify and perform valued activities and improve their quality of life by providing exercise regimes and energy conservation strategies. “Our team of physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists meet the patient where they are and offer a means to optimize their quality of life through rehab services,” she says. 

Eckhardt says her goal is to enhance the provision of patient-centered care and contribute to patients’ quality of life. “My overall goal for patients is to help them understand the benefits of rehab services, and how these services may impact their cancer treatment and their quality of life. I want to help them achieve the goals they identify for themselves,” she says.

Eckhardt is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Occupational Therapy Association, Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association, International Council on Active Aging, and Southeastern Pennsylvania Association for Healthcare Quality.