August 2014 Newlsetter
August 2014
Clinical Café Newsletter
By: Ronda Polansky M.S. CCC-SLP
Monthly Motivator
Your work is to discover your skill and then with all your heart to give yourself to it. That’s the mark of a true professional.
In remembrance of: Jeri Logemann
Dr. Logemann was a pioneer in the field of dysphagia. She served as the President of DRS in 2001. Dr. Logemann also served as the President of ASHA and was an ASHA Fellow. With her passing away is an end of era. She will forever be remembered as changing the direction of our profession.
Upcoming Holiday – DiagnosTEX will be closed on Labor Day, Monday September 1, 2014. Please keep this in consideration when scheduling your studies. We will operate Tuesday – Friday that week.
Interesting fact: The first observance of Labor Day is believed to have been a parade of 10,000 workers on Sept. 5, 1882, in New York City, organized by Peter J. McGuire, a Carpenters and Joiners Union secretary. By 1893, more than half the states were observing “Labor Day” on one day or another, and Congress passed a bill to establish a federal holiday in 1894. President Grover Cleveland signed the bill soon afterward, designating the first Monday in September as Labor Day.
What are we celebrating? 146 million people 16 years and older in the nation’s labor force in June 2014. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Required Information for scheduling with DiagnosTEX:
We have been handing out “required information forms” on the van and discussing upcoming paperwork requirements in the newsletter. Due to electronic health records in the facilities, new regulations going into effect, as well as ongoing Medicare audits, starting the first of September we will require these 5 items below to be faxed in before a study will be posted on the pending list for scheduling:
- History/Consult Form filled out in its entirety
- Physician order for “Dysphagia Consultation including Modified Barium Swallow Study”, OR sign and check the bottom of the History/Consult form
- Copy of the patients Face sheet
- Copy of the patients H & P
- DiagnosTEX Authorization Form
- FOR HOME HEALTH ONLY – all of the above is required, including the DiagnosTEX Home Health Acknowledgements Form.
All DiagnosTEX forms can be found and printed from the website at www.dysphagiadiagnostex.com. Thank you for your help in advance for getting all this necessary information to us.
Texas Summers – HOT! HOT! HOT! Unfortunately this time of year is one we dread in the mobile business! Hot temperatures, being parked on hot concrete in the sun, running A/Cs on high, and/or sitting in one location for long periods of time can often cause our generators to overheat. We take numerous precautions, provide extensive preventative maintenance on our equipment, and strive to ensure this does not happen… but the Texas summer can be unforgiving! Generators can only get “so hot” in triple digit temperatures before yielding to the heat. Please be aware that IF these generator issues occur, we may have to adjust your scheduled time. It would be helpful (to us, your patients, and the completion of your studies) if we can park under a portico or in a shaded area. Please check with your administrators on this; we appreciate your understanding and flexibility during these hot summer months.
MORE INFORMATION on AMPCARE conferences, products etc. – You can find more information on ESP, order forms and information about upcoming conferences at www.ampcarellc.com . Check out the website and/or call AMPCARE directly at 682-561-2444.
*********Next local AMPCARE ESP (FDA cleared Treatment for Dysphagia) course in Carrollton, TX – Saturday August 23rd, 2014. Earn 8 ASHA CEU’s. Get more information on website to register.
New dysphagia product – Mom’s meals NourishCare Pureed foods
A new line of nutritional and flavorful pureed meals made from fresh, high quality ingredients that remain in the refrigerator for 14 days in Fresh-lock packaging. Meals are fully prepared and ready to heat and eat in 2 minutes, Products are deliverable nationwide, direct to patients home or to healthcare facilities. Meals can be ordered through website www.MomsMeals.com or calling 1-855-431-6667. For more information or to take a Taste Test, contact them and taste the difference.
Dysphagia Tidbit – E Cigs and PNA
An increase in consults for young (late 20’s -early 40’s) patients with recent recurrent pneumonia (PNA) is being seen. These patients have all stated that they quit smoking and switched to e-cigarettes, which they use frequently. Aside from the typical health problems associated with smoking, these patients have been otherwise healthy. There is a rather impassioned online debate about lipoid PNA and e-cigs, and others have found user complaints of PNA on e-cig forums.
Concerns on the table about this new form of smoking:
Just how sterile are the contents being used?
What chemicals are being used for flavoring?
Inhaling liquid nicotine?
Are the ingredients anesthetizing the sensory receptors, resulting in silent aspiration?
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