The Speech-Pathology team provides services at many locations, including acute care patients (Trinity Hospital), outpatients (St. Joseph's or Sports Medicine), rehabilitation patients (RehabCare - St. Joseph's), home health patients, and nursing home residents (Trinity Homes). Services are also provided to many skilled nursing home facilities in outlying rural areas.
Screening: An informal and limited evaluation of an individual with a suspected disorder to determine whether further assessment should be conducted. A physician’s order is not needed and a patient would not be billed for this service.
Evaluation: A thorough evaluation of speech and language skills using standardized test measures and/or informal testing procedures. Voice evaluations are conducted using perceptual analysis. Swallowing evaluations consist of clinical evaluations at bedside and modified barium swallow evaluations conducted in the radiology department.
Treatment: An individualized therapy program to improve the communication impairment and/or swallowing problems. A physician’s order is needed for most third-party payors.
Patient-family education: Information relevant to the patient’s communication disorder and/or dysphagia. This may be provided in conjunction with the screen, the evaluation and/or the treatment.
Community education: Information relevant to communication disorders and/or dysphagia to the general public.