Abstract: Approve "Knowledge and Skills for Speech-Language Pathologists Performing Endoscopic Assessment of Swallowing Function"
RESOLVED, That the document "Knowledge and Skills for Speech-Language Pathologists Performing Endoscopic Assessment of Swallowing Function" be approved as policy of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA); and further
RESOLVED, That the document be published in the next annual Supplement to The ASHA Leader and posted on the Web, made available through Fax-on-Demand, and included in the next revision of the ASHA Desk Reference.
RATIONALE: This document represents the work of the ASHA Special Interest Division 13, Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders (Dysphagia), Task Force on Training Guidelines for Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing Functions. The Task Force’s purpose was to develop information on the use of endoscopy to inspect functions of the swallowing mechanism at the velopharynx, oropharynx, pharynx, and larynx. Fiberoptic endoscopic assessment of swallowing functions is gaining widespread use as an instrumental procedure among speech-language pathologists who engage in the clinical management of dysphagia. Endoscopic assessment of swallowing is a procedure (like other imaging assessments of swallowing) that requires an advanced level of training and demonstration of knowledge, technical skill, and interpretative proficiency. Therefore, it is important that knowledge and skill requirements for clinical use of this procedure be clearly identified. Further, this document will provide health-care decision-makers the information to understand the role and contributions of speech-language pathologists in this area of practice.
OUTCOME(S): Increase the number of ASHA members who are knowledgeable about the use of fiberoptic endoscopy in the assessment, diagnosis, management, and treatment of patients with dysphagia.
Describe the knowledge and skills of speech-language pathologists in this area of practice to external and internal audiences.
BUDGET IMPACT: Printing cost of the document, already in the publications’ budget, is estimated to be $3,250.
PROGRAMMATIC IMPACT: Approval of this document will establish knowledge and skills for the use of fiberoptic endoscopy in the assessment of swallowing function. Consequently, more uniform information will be available to practitioners and educators.
If not approved, third party payers may develop materials related to this imaging assessment of dysphagia that do not accurately reflect clinical practice and could negatively affect members reimbursement for endoscopic assessments of dysphagia. Further, educational programs may not include the necessary information in the curricula.
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