Navigating Tracheostomy: Speech Pathology Interventions and Outcomes

Delaware Speech-Language-Hearing Association Presents
A Virtual Evening Meeting

Navigating Tracheostomy: Speech Pathology Interventions and Outcomes

Wednesday, November 6, 2024
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

By: Janet Sechrist M.A., CCC-SLP BCS-S, Board Certified Specialist- Swallowing & Swallowing Disorders and Elizabeth Jones, M.S., CCC-SLP

Janet Sechrist, M.A., CCC-SLP BCS-S, is a medical speech-language pathologist at ChristianaCare Health System and an adjunct professor at the University of Delaware, with over 25 years of experience in the field. She is board-certified in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders. Janet has worked across various settings, specializing in the care of medically complex adults, particularly in restoring voice and swallowing function in patients with tracheostomy tubes and head/neck cancer. Her passion for this work has led her to play a pivotal role in developing both a Multidisciplinary Trach Team and a Multidisciplinary Vent Communication Team, aimed at improving outcomes for these patients.

Elizabeth Ashley Jones M.A. CCC-SLP is from Harrington, DE; She earned her Bachelor of Science from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2008 and her Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology at Vanderbilt University in 2010. She has previously worked for the Nashville VA and has been working at Bayhealth since 2010. She has previous experience working in home health and outpatient therapy. She has been an acute care SLP since 2018 with interest in dysphagia management for various patient populations. Throughout her time at Bayhealth, Ashley assisted in the development of a FEES program in 2017 and spearheaded the Multidisciplinary Tracheostomy Team in 2020.

Course description This course provided an overview of the SLP’s role in tracheostomy management. It included best practices for optimizing communication and swallowing for this complex patient population, reviewed the SLP’s vital role as part of the multidisciplinary team, and introduced innovations in tracheostomy care.

Course instructional level: Intermediate

Instructional methods: Lecture

Learning objectives:  (1) Identify parts of a tracheostomy tube to include sizing and specifics of various models, (2) Explain the role of SLP in assessment and treatment of speech, voice, and dysphagia, (3) Describe parameters for decannulation and role of SLP in process, (4) Summarize the benefits of a multidisciplinary tracheostomy team, (5) Describe future directions in the care of the tracheostomized patient

Time ordered agenda:  6:00- 6:15 Basic Tracheostomy Knowledge

                              6:15- 6:45 Role of SLP in Tracheostomy Management

                              6:45-7:15 Multidisciplinary Tracheostomy Team
and new directions

                              7:15-7:30 Questions

1.5 PDHs will be offered for attendance and successful completion of post presentation testing