MOBILE FEES

WHAT IS FEES AND HOW CAN IT HELP YOU?

WHAT IS IT?

FEES (Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallow) is an objective assessment of swallow function that can accurately diagnose dysphagia (swallowing difficulty) and guide effective treatment strategies. 

A highly skilled speech-language pathologist (SLP) uses a small camera that is inserted through the nose and the throat is observed as the patient swallows various food and liquid consistencies, providing direct and live images of the swallow mechanism. 

This procedure  is one of the two GOLD STANDARD assessments for swallowing, requires no radiation exposure or barium consumption and can be performed practically anywhere. The patient is able to consume the foods they like and in their natural eating environment during the study. In addition, it can also screen for secretion management and voice dysfunction that other swallowing assessments cannot.

Once a contract is signed by your medical facility and a physician's order is written for a FEES, you will contact us directly to schedule a time that works for you. We will return your call within 24 hours and schedule the FEES within 3-5 days. You will receive a detailed report and invoice the day that the procedure is completed. 

Why do you need this?

In the Nursing Homes:

SLPs have been trained to diagnose and treat dysphagia, but we do not have x-ray vision. A bedside swallow evaluation alone may restrict a patient’s diet (thickening liquids, pureeing food, etc) or place them on an unsafe diet. Imagine someone telling your loved one that they could not eat or drink anything without visualizing the cause or giving them food/liquid prematurely and increasing the risk for pneumonia or re-hospitalization? 

Patients recently intubated, new onset of voice changes, after cardiac/lung/neck surgeries, with tracheotomies, and underlying neurological conditions are at increased risk for SILENT aspiration. That means that what they are eating or drinking may be going into their lungs and they do not cough when it happens. The prevalence of dysphagia has been estimated to be as high as 68% for residents in long term care settings with aspiration pneumonia being a major cause of death. Dysphagia Solutions LA brings a GOLD STANDARD in swallowing evaluations to your facility, for 1/4 of the cost of a procedure done at the hospital (e.g. MBSS), to help your SLP make the appropriate diet recommendations and treatment interventions for your residents. 

In the Hospitals:

Many patients may be critically ill (e.g. ICU, high oxygen requirements, etc) or have body mechanics that inhibit them from being able to sit up or visualize their throat for an MBSS (e.g. femoral drain, IABP, spinal surgery, large body habitus, etc). These patients are often recommended to maintain a NPO (nothing by mouth) status or placed at risk for a PO diet initiated too soon. In addition, they need to be coordinated with the radiology department, transport nurses, respiratory therapy, perfusionists, and/or restraint orders to transport for MBSS. A FEES may allow these patients improved quality of life by guiding diet decisions in a more timely manner without the added barriers that MBSS may bring.