Nancy Beecher, PT, is the Clinical Manager and a physical therapist at MossRehab Collegeville. As an amputation specialist, she helps patients with limb loss learn to walk again with a prosthesis.
What motivated you to become a physical therapist?
I started as a business major at Drexel University but quickly realized that I wanted to be involved in a career that allowed me to be more active and help others. I volunteered at my community hospital in the physical therapy (PT) department and saw how gratifying it was to have a direct role in helping people move and feel better. From this experience, I pursued my career in physical therapy.
Can you tell us about your educational background and training?
After one year at Drexel, I transferred to Temple University to take the prerequisites required for physical therapy school. Then, I earned my master’s in physical therapy from Thomas Jefferson University. After graduation, I started full-time at MossRehab, working on various inpatient and outpatient units including stroke, spinal cord, traumatic brain injury, musculoskeletal, and amputation. These were invaluable experiences in helping me develop a well-rounded skill set that prepared me to work with different patient populations. I accepted a position as an amputation specialist at MossRehab’s main campus in 2001. In 2008, I was promoted to Team Leader of the comprehensive rehabilitation unit at MossRehab Elkin’s Park and Clinical Manager at MossRehab Norristown in 2012. When the Collegeville clinic opened in 2014, I transitioned there as Clinical Manager and have been here ever since.
What makes you stay at MossRehab?
I stay at MossRehab because of the patient-centered focus and high-quality care that ensures their satisfaction. MossRehab also supports employees with professional development and educational opportunities. In addition, a culture of teamwork and camaraderie keeps many of us here for years.
What are your roles at MossRehab?
As a physical therapist, I treat patients with different orthopedic, general medical, or neurologic conditions. As an amputation specialist, I care for patients with limb loss and treat them through the stages of amputation rehabilitation, both before and after getting a prosthesis. My day is very diverse and interesting. I could go from working with an athlete on a high-level task to someone trying to learn to stand and walk again. As the clinical manager for the site, I oversee a multidisciplinary team of clinicians and multiple services offered to the community. Our site offers niche specialties including amputation, vestibular, pediatrics, hand therapy, running clinic, and LSVT (Lee Silverman Voice Treatment) BIG and LOUD program for patients with Parkinson’s Disease. I also participate in various committees throughout the MossRehab network. I recently became a member of the Career Development Committee, which supports clinicians in advancing their practices.
What is your approach to therapy?
My approach to therapy is patient-centered, holistic, and evidence-based. It is important to provide patients with empathy and see things from their point of view to understand their feelings. It is equally important to identify what is important to them and their goals while allowing them to share in the decision-making during their care. I also strive to educate patients so that they can understand and incorporate best practices, which include evidence-based, clinical experience, and patient values.
What outcomes do you expect for your patients?
The most important outcome is that the patients are very satisfied and confident with their abilities. Various measures are used in therapy to track progress and outcomes. These are helpful to both the therapist and patient in justifying the skilled care and appreciating the progress associated with that care. But the bottom line is the patient experience. The goal is for patients to be pleased with their therapy and what they’ve achieved.
Can you describe a therapy session?
Each patient receives a comprehensive initial evaluation to assess needs and goals for therapy. Treatment sessions are individualized and tailored to the patient. Various interventions are employed to help a patient move and feel better. These interventions can include manual therapy techniques, exercises to address range of motion, strength, endurance, and/or balance, and functional activities. The goal of therapy is to help a patient to optimize their function. Specialized equipment also may be utilized, such as a bodyweight support treadmill that can help to increase training intensity and allow a patient to progress in a more pain-free manner. Patient therapy is progressed each session to achieve goals as efficiently as possible. The patients receive education on what they should be doing at home to progress rehabilitation, including self-care considerations and home exercises.
What are your clinical interests?
I am particularly interested in amputation rehabilitation, gait analysis, and training. As an amputation specialist, staying up-to-date in advances in prosthetic technology interests me. It is crucial to understand how socket design, alignment, and prosthetic componentry impact a patient’s comfort level and ability to function to provide the highest level of prosthetic rehabilitation.
What inspires you on the job?
Having a direct role in helping someone move and feel better is gratifying and inspires me to do everything possible to make a difference. I am especially happy when a patient tells me that they feel great and doing things that they haven’t done in years.
Who has had a strong influence on your life?
My parents have had a strong influence on my life. They immigrated to America from Italy to provide better opportunities for our family. They learned a new language and worked as laborers to provide a good life for my brothers and me. They taught me the value of family and working hard to achieve your goals.
What are your interests outside of work?
I enjoy spending time with my husband and three sons. I've always enjoyed going to the beach. My family has an annual extended family tradition where we go to Wildwood Crest, NJ for a week at the beginning of every summer. I also like gardening, biking, and hiking.
What's the last book that you read?
I read The Diary of Anne Frank so that my son and I could discuss it for school. Although sad, this story was inspiring. Ann had an amazing ability to stay strong while hiding and seeing the good in everyone, despite facing significant threats.
What is your life motto?
Be grateful. It’s important to realize that while not every day is good, there is something good in every day. We need to recognize that and be grateful.
Learn about MossRehab’s Amputation and Prosthetics Rehabilitation Program.