Agency Report on Speech Therapy and Pharmacology I had the opportunity to follow a Speech Pathologist and Pharmacist at Grandview

Hospital to become aware of their nutrition-related benefits and services that are offered. It was very interesting to follow the Speech Pathologist because I had the opportunity to see a swallow evaluation through an X-ray machine with an outpatient individual. The Speech Pathologist tested the patient by having her swallow three different li uid consistencies! including honey-thic"! nectar-thic"! and thin li uids. This was a test to see which consistency the patient could or could not tolerate. I reviewed the X-ray with the Speech Pathologist after the swallow evaluation to see if the patient had aspirated with any of the li uids. I then went with the therapist to a patient#s room and observed her giving a swallow evaluation to a new patient to see if they aspirated with any of the consistencies. If the patient did not aspirate! then that patient was allowed to receive a thin li uid diet! without any restrictions. It is very important in the dietetic profession to refer patients to Speech Pathologists in several different cases. $or e%ample! it is crucial for a Speech Pathologist to visit with a patient before they are advanced from a tube feeding to an oral diet or if the patient complains of difficulty chewing and swallowing. Speech Therapy has ma&or nutrition-related benefits and services that they can offer. In following the Pharmacist! I had the opportunity to e%perience their side of the medical field as well. There is a plethora amount of different types of medication prescribed to patients each day. I uic"ly learned how crucial the Pharmacists &ob is in "nowing the correct dosage of medication and if there are any harmful interactions between the different drugs prescribed to each patient. It is important for the Pharmacists

to be aware of any food and drug interactions as well. It is a very important &ob that re uires close attention and minor details. 'verall! each of these professions has nutrition-related benefits and they offer a lot of information that is e%tremely useful to the dietetic profession.