160: Advocating Even When It’s Hard with Irine Chacko MS CCC-SLP
As SLPs, we need to advocate for our patients even when it’s hard. Irine Chacko joins Leigh Ann on the podcast to describe her experience during COVID-19 that changed her mindset and confidence in advocating and giving a voice to her patients. Irine was selected as the SLP for a pilot program initiated at her hospital during COVID-19. Sixteen medically fragile COVID-19 patients between the ages of 40-70 joined the newly established unit from her hospital and neighboring hospitals. All the patients were on the ventilator with tracheostomy and PEG. These patients were in acute care for months and unable to be weaned off and/or did not have the adequate support to do so. By discharge from the pilot program, all patients were off of COVID precautions, alert and oriented, and on a PO diet.
Key Takeaway:
Advocate for our patients!
We give patients the basic necessity to eat and communicate. What better gift is there to give someone? Let’s do everything we can to achieve that.
Resources
The above slide deck was created in 2020 and used literature and journal articles available at that time.
Journal Articles:
Cameron, J. L., Reynolds, J., & Zuidema, G. D. (1973). Aspiration in patients with tracheostomies. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 52(2), 206.
Donzelli, J., Brady, S., Wesling, M., & Thesien, M. (2006). Secretions, occlusion status, and swallowing in patients with tracheostomy tube: A descriptive study. Ear, Nose and Throat Journal, 85(12), 831-834.
Elpern, E. H., Scott, M. G., Petro, L., & Ries, M. H. (1994). Pulmonary aspiration in mechanically ventilated patients with tracheostomies. Chest, 105(2), 563-566.
Partik, B., Pokieser, P., Schima, W., Schober, E., Stadler, A., Eisenhuber, E., ... & Lechner, G. (2000). Videofluoroscopy of swallowing in symptomatic patients who have undergone long-term intubation. American Journal of Roentgenology, 174(5), 1409-1412.
Prigent, H., Lejaille, M., Terzi, N., Annane, D., Figere, M., Orlikowski, D., & Lofaso, F. (2012). Effect of a tracheostomy speaking valve on breathing–swallowing interaction. Intensive care medicine, 38(1), 85-90.
Tolep, K., Getch, C. L., & Criner, G. J.(1996). Swallowing dysfunction in patients receiving prolonged mechanical ventilation. Chest, 109(1), 167-172.
Thanks for these great resources, Irine!
Guest Speaker Bio:
Irine Chacko graduated undergrad from CUNY Queens College and received her masters from New York Medical College. Irine has been an SLP for 7 years and during her career, has worked across several types of settings from acute care, acute rehabilitation, home care, SNF’s, and currently is in an outpatient facility where she specialize in neurology. Irine is in the process of attaining her CBIS - certified brain injury specialist from the American Brain Injury Association.
Leigh Ann Porter, MA, CCC-SLP
Host Bio:
Leigh Ann Porter is a medical SLP in San Jose, California. Building on a passion for education and implementing best practice approaches, Leigh Ann created the Speech Uncensored Podcast to connect medical SLPs with meaningful resources, emerging research, and practical tools. Leigh Ann’s goal is to empower and connect SLPs to enhance our profession and accelerate the research to practice pipeline. One of her passions is learning and sharing simple and impactful therapy techniques. In addition to nerding out on medical speech pathology, Leigh Ann loves hiking at national parks, exploring waterways on her stand up paddle board, and enjoying a delicious meal with friends and family.
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