[Dysphagia] Hospital "Savings" if NO Inpatient Dysphagia Program

[RN2D at hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu (Neubert, Rebecca R *HS)]

Ouch. Well, one place to start might be the new JCAHO regulations which place significant importance on swallowing assessment for new stroke patients. Even if your hospital is not applying for the Stroke Center accreditation, I would see if any of the JCAHO documents related to these guidelines has references. Try 'googling' JCAHO and stroke. I don't have the official name handy here at home. If you can't find them, email me back and I'll find the info. I would also appeal to your neurologists. They tend to be staunch supporters of what we do and may add some sway if not some references as well.

Good Luck!
-Rebecca


-----Original Message-----
From:	dysphagia-bounces@b9.com on behalf of Nancy Spence
Sent:	Wed 8/4/2004 4:37 PM
To:	dysphagia@b9.com
Cc:	
Subject:	[Dysphagia] Hospital "Savings" if NO Inpatient Dysphagia Program
Periodically (and repeatedly) over many years, financial justification
for dysphagia (or other) programs comes up during the budget process.
This year, it's "What if we stop doing inpatient swallowing tests?"
(after doing clinicals 25 years, videos 20 years, fees/sts 3 years).

I pulled out a couple of references to articles from Protocol 201
summary materials by Odderson that supported economic and quality
results from day 1 intervention with stroke patients. I recall
information on cost of aspiration pneumonia vs. prevention, but not the
references. These folks are more interested in numbers ($) than words -
who can help?

Thank you! 
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