Speech-Language Pathology Students Travel to UPMC

Twenty-four Speech-Language Pathology graduate students traveled to UPMC Williamsport for a clinical education experience on October 22, in lieu of their regularly scheduled "Disorders of Feeding and Swallowing" class. 

The experience was led by speech-language pathologist (SLP), course instructor, Jessie Webber. Webber, a full-time employee of UPMC, collaborated with five other speech-language pathologists to provide a unique and engaging clinical experience for the graduate students in her class. 

The collaborating speech-language pathologists included Mollie Herlehy, Tracy Coppadge, Carmen Bauer, Cassie Shaheen, and Lisa Godfrey, all of whom primarily work in adult acute care and/or adult inpatient rehab.

The evening started with Jessie Webber demonstrating what a FEES assessment looks like. 

What is FEES?

After a stroke, or due to neurological disease or trauma, a person’s swallowing function could become weak, putting them at risk for aspiration which could lead to pneumonia. Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) is an instrumental assessment that speech-language pathologists perform to get real-time and direct visualization of a person’s swallow to assess its safety and efficiency. 

The FEES assessment involves the use of a fiberoptic endoscope, monitor, video recording system, and other equipment placed on a mobile cart.  This assessment is especially beneficial for patients who cannot easily access a radiology suite. 

When performed, a flexible scope passes through the floor of the nasal passage and into the pharynx, allowing the speech-language pathologist to have a clear view of the larynx, pharynx, and upper esophageal sphincter. The patient is given a series of liquids and solid foods to eat, and the swallow can be observed and analyzed in real-time.

Students were shown the equipment used in the assessment, as well as the typical line-up of liquids and solids to be administered. Webber demonstrated the procedure and scoped fellow speech-language pathologist Tracy Coppage.

Students and speech-language pathologists went through the entirety of a FEES procedure. During the procedure, students identified anatomical landmarks, practiced feeding, and observed the physiology of multiple swallows in real-time.

The night concluded with a Q & A panel discussion. Students had the opportunity to ask all present speech-language pathologists questions about preparing for adult medical clinical placements, what its like to work in various adult medical settings (acute care, outpatient, skilled nursing, inpatient rehab), and general advice on becoming a competent clinician. 

Students felt they learned a great deal from the experience. Starting in the spring, they will be off on their medical externship placements, so the opportunity to participate in a clinical experience like this, in conjunction with their current coursework, was invaluable.