The Pulse

Patient Information: Male, Age 71

Diagnosis: Guillain-Barré Syndrome / Oropharyngeal Dysphagia

History: This gentleman was referred to a skilled nursing facility for rehabilitation services after a 3-month hospital stay. He was visiting his son in the United States from Venezuela when he began experiencing numbness in his legs. He was hospitalized and diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (rare autoimmune disorder that causes rapid and unexpected muscle weakness). While hospitalized he experienced multiple complications including infection, being placed on a ventilator, and placement of a feeding tube. Prior to his hospitalization he lived independently and ate a regular diet.

Part 3: What about My Clinical Judgement?

We bring our EBP series discussion to a close with consideration of clinical expertise/expert opinion. This component of the triangle may be defined as “The knowledge, judgment, and critical reasoning acquired through [your] training and professional experiences” (ASHA, 2020).

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States with greater than 600,000 deaths attributed each year. Along with other conditions such as diabetes and obesity, heart disease may lead to heart failure which affects 6.2 million Americans per year (CDC, 2020).

Patient Information: Male, Age 91

Diagnosis: Parkinson’s Disease / Oropharyngeal Dysphagia /
COVID-19

History: This gentleman, a long-term resident of a skilled nursing facility, was diagnosed one and a half years ago with oropharyngeal dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), a complication of his Parkinson’s disease. Since that time he has had known aspiration (liquids entering the airway), altered diet, hospitalization for aspiration pneumonia, and COVID-19. Due to his complaint of his liquids being too thick, he requested to participate in swallowing therapy for possible return to thin liquids. As a result, swallowing evaluation and resultant therapy was initiated.

Part 2: Implementing Internal and External Evidence

We began our discussion on employing evidence-based practice (EBP) in swallowing rehabilitation during the spring newsletter, with careful consideration for upholding ethics in treatment and focusing on patient perspective. Let’s continue by delving deeper into incorporation of evidence in dysphagia therapy. ASHA defines the implementation of evidence as “The best available information gathered from the scientific literature (external evidence) and from data and observations collected on your individual client (internal evidence).” ASHA’s recommended EBP process includes the following steps: Frame the clinical question, gather evidence, assess the evidence, and make the clinical decision (ASHA 2020).

Part 1: Ethics and Considerations in Patient and Caregiver Perspectives

According to the CDC, falls are common among older adults with 36 million occurring each year and more than 8 million requiring medical attention. Among those with Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, stroke, and those experiencing impaired strength, coordination, and balance after prolonged hospitalization falls are also common. Individuals with or recovering from COVID-19 may also have these impairments and are at an increased risk of falls.

Collaboration to provide ability to monitor, manage and analyze vital signs from post-acute care patients

RENO, Nev. – Dec. 1, 2020 – Accelerated Care Plus (ACP), a Hanger, Inc. (NYSE: HNGR) company, today announced a partnership with Current Health, a global leader in remote healthcare delivery. ACP, the nation’s leading provider of specialized rehabilitation technologies and evidence-based clinical solutions for post-acute providers, will distribute Current Health’s remote monitoring platform, co-branded as OmniVitals Powered by Current Health, to the post-acute care market through ACP’s network of more than 7,000 post-acute care facilities.

According to the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), five million Americans are affected by chronic wounds each year. Chronic wounds are those that do not show measurable progress in wound healing with standard nursing care in 30 days. Individuals with diabetes, disability, and the elderly are among those at highest risk.

Patient Information: Male, Age 75