Quality Reports - Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Center
Feeding, Swallowing and Nutrition Program: Impact of Inpatient Feeding Program
Why we measure it - Measuring the percentage of oral feeding in tube feeding-dependent children allows us to track the effectiveness of our interventions and program as a whole. These measures give us information about functional outcomes of these children.
What this means - Over the course of a year, a combination of outpatient assessment and intervention, combined with brief inpatient intensive therapy, as needed, can produce sustained growth while effectively decreasing, and eventually eliminating the need for tube feeding in most children.
About the data - Data reflects the collective experience of approximately 60 children who participated in the program and also required short-term inpatient intensive behavioral intervention at Children's Hospital.
Related dimensions of care:
  
What we're doing to provide the best care:
- The program was started by Colin Rudolph, MD, PhD, and Joan Arvedson, PhD, internationally recognized authorities on the assessment and management of dysphagia and feeding disorders in infants and children.
- We provide an interdisciplinary approach that promotes comprehensive care of feeding disorders:
- Three pediatric gastroenterologists provide the medical supervision and interventions, including a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic procedures.
- Four speech-language pathologists assess oral sensorimotor skills and swallowing via clinic and instrumental swallowing studies (videofluoroscopic swallow studies and fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallow (FEES) in conjunction with Department of Otolaryngology).
- Four registered dietitians give expert nutritional assessment and dietary guidance to provide optimal nutrition for each patient's specific needs.
- Four pediatric psychologists provide expert assessment and interventions focusing on the behavioral aspects of feeding disorders.
- Expert nurses provide clinical care, overall coordination and ongoing communication support.
- Evaluation and intervention by an occupational therapist is incorporated for children with a broad range of sensory and motor needs.
- Other specialists are available for consultation on an as-needed basis, including pulmonologists, allergists, geneticists, neurologists, otolaryngologists, pediatric surgeons, psychiatrists, physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists, cardiologists and radiologists.
- We include parents and families as members of the interdisciplinary team.
- We provide a consistent group of professionals for long-term treatment.
- We develop plans that involve a child's primary medical team and local therapists.
- Initial consultation and follow-up care are provided on an outpatient basis with a goal of incorporating local therapies into plans of care.
- Inpatient behavioral intervention is available for patients with specific needs, including failure of outpatient options.
- We track outcomes.
- We develop innovative approaches, including telemedicine, to improve delivery of care.
Patients/Families:
- Be an advocate for your child. Provide any information about your child that may be helpful to staff.
- Ask questions if you don't understand the plan of care or if you are not sure how to care for your child at home.
- Attend any and all follow-up appointments.
- Work with your child's primary care physician on the full plan and follow-up recommendations.
- If participating in the inpatient program, agree to be present for all meals during the hospitalization.
If you have questions about this data or information, e-mail us or call (414) 266-6556.
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