ASHA Learning Pass

This session discusses how initiating speech-language pathology services at the onset of illness can ensure patient-centered care and result in better post-ICU outcomes. The presenter addresses the SLP’s role in evaluating and treating medically fragile patients in the ICU as well as the benefits of early communication, cognition, and swallowing evaluations and novel treatments for medically fragile patients. The session also summarizes how SLPs provide communication assistance to patients who are intubated by utilizing augmentative and alternative communication methods. The presenter also describes the SLP’s role in educating patients and their families regarding how to pragmatically work through cognitive, emotional, and swallowing difficulties in the ICU environment.

This is a recorded session from a 2024 ASHA online conference, Airway Fundamentals: Considerations for SLP Decision-Making.

Learning Outcomes
You will be able to:

• Identify two benefits for early mobilization and communication for intubated patients and their families/caretakers
• Distinguish which patients with airway compromise would benefit from various treatment approaches (e.g., pharyngeal electrical stimulation, respiratory muscle strength training, etc.) for best swallowing outcomes
• Describe the SLP’s role in educating/counseling patients and care partners in the ICU environment

Presenter Information

Jo Puntil, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, is an ASHA Fellow and a dysphagia clinical specialist at St. George Regional Hospital. She has specialized in the management of swallowing and communication disorders, specifically in critical care, for over 35 years. Jo Puntil has authored clinically based reference tools, research publications, and many chapters in college textbooks. She has developed numerous interdisciplinary dysphagia programs and has lectured nationally, providing a more medically based understanding of the communication and swallowing disordered patient.

Disclosures:

• Financial compensation from ASHA for this presentation

Assessment Type

Self-assessment—Think about what you learned and report on the Completion Form how you will use your new knowledge.

To earn continuing education credit, you must complete and submit the learning assessment by March 17, 2030

Program History and CE Information

Online conference dates: June 5–17, 2024, November 6-18, 2024
End date: March 17, 2030