Mississippi University for Women - Basic FEES: Instrumental Dysphagia Assessment -March 28-29, 2025 (PRIVATE TRAINING)

Presented by:

SA Swallowing Services, PLLC, Nashville, Tennessee

Hosted by:

Department of Speech-Language Pathology, Mississippi University for Women

Intended Audience Only: Privately Hosted with Invitation Only

Speech-Language Pathology graduate students and SLP staff with earned Master’s degree or above who are working for or affiliated with Mississippi University for Women.  Registration by non-SLP professionals is not permitted.

Private Course Date:

March 28-29, 2025

Registration Closes:

March 18, 2025

Course Location:

Department of Speech-Language Pathology, 1100 College St., MUW-1340,Columbus, MS 39701

Purpose:

To provide a two-day training course for Speech-Language Pathologists in the use of transnasal endoscopy to assess pharyngeal dysphagia using a standard FEES assessment protocol, and scoring and analysis procedures.

Objectives: 

At the completion of this course participants should be able to:

• Demonstrate safe & effective manual skills using nasoendoscopy to assess the oropharynx, hypopharynx, & larynx before, during, & after each swallow event;

• Describe & demonstrate specific FEES protocols & procedures to capture & assess dynamic & complex swallowing events;

• Identify & explain the anatomy & physiology of swallow peristalsis & airway protection functions during normal & abnormal swallowing events, as viewed endoscopically;

• Identify, describe, & demonstrate standard infection control procedures before & after each FEES procedure;

• Identify & describe any risks or contraindications for administering the FEES procedure; and

• Identify, analyze, & interpret FEES results to recommend & guide appropriate interventions.

Local Contact:

Laurel V. Jones, M.S., CCC-SLP (lvjones@muw.edu)

Course Information Contact:

John R. Ashford, Ph.D., (John@sasspllc.com)

Faculty & Disclosures:

 Michelle Skelley, M.Ed., CCC-SLP:  Co-founder and President of SA Swallowing Services, she is a medical Speech-Language Pathologist and FEES Endoscopist serving rehabilitation hospitals and nursing homes across Tennessee and parts of Kentucky and Georgia.  She also is the supervisor/instructor for on-site FEES competency training.  She is licensed and certified as a provider and instructor of swallowing endoscopy in accordance with Tennessee statutes.

Disclosures: Financial: Co-Owner of SA Swallowing Services, PLLC, paid course instructor; Non-financial: None

John R. Ashford, Ph.D., CCC-SLP: Co-founder and Educational/Research Director of SA Swallowing Services, he has over 48 years of experience as a Speech-Language Pathologist. He is retired from the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care System and as a University Professor. He is licensed and certified as an instructor of swallowing endoscopy in accordance with Tennessee statutes.

Disclosures: Financial: Co-Owner of SA Swallowing Services, PLLC, paid course instructor; Non-financial: NoneDisclosures: Financial: Contract Associate with SA Swallowing Services, PLLC, paid course instructor; Non-financial: None.

Jessica Scott, M.S., CCC-SLP: A medical Speech-Language Pathologist with clinical experience in acute and nursing home care.  As a FEES Endoscopist, she serves the east Tennessee area. She is licensed and certified as an instructor in swallowing endoscopy in Tennessee. She joined SASS in 2019 as a contract clinician and instructor.

Disclosures: Financial: Contract Associate with SA Swallowing Services, PLLC, paid course instructor; Non-financial: None.

Travis Camp, M.S., CCC-SLP: Formerly, a traveling medical Speech-Language Pathologist in several states, he is licensed and certified in FEES Endoscopy serving hospitals and nursing care facilities in middle Tennessee and northern Georgia.  He joined SASS in 2018 as a FEES clinician and has moved forward as an instructor and researcher.

Disclosures: Financial: Contract Associate with SA Swallowing Services, PLLC, paid course instructor; Non-financial: None.

Other Disclosures:

Mississippi University for Women: Financial: Tuition support for participants; Non-financial: Use of facility meeting space.

Course Agenda:

Day One: 8:00 to 5:00

• Introduction & Purposes of FEES (30m)

• Surface Anatomy (15m)

• Surface Anatomy Exercise (20m)

• Underlying Anatomy &Physiology of Swallowing (45m)

• Nasoendoscopic & FEES Equipment (20m)

• Medical Issues & Nasoendoscopy (30 min)

• Infection Control Requirements & Procedures (40m)

• Endoscope Insertion & Handling (45 min)

• Endoscopy Lab: Hands-on, supervised Nasoendoscopy/FEES Training, and

• FEES Analysis Lab: Identifying & Defining Swallowing Consequences: Introduction to FEES Observations & Computer Analysis Practice Labs (225m)

Day Two: 8:00 to 4:30

• FEES Protocols & Procedures (60m)

• Scoring FEES Using Rating Scales (60m)

• Analyzing Swallow & Airway Protection Behaviors (70m)

• FEES: Behavioral Intervention & EBP (55m)

• FEES Demonstration/Duel Scope Video

• Endoscopy Lab: Hands-on, supervised Nasoendoscopy/FEES Training, and

• FEES Analysis Lab: FEES Observations and Scoring (225m)

Course Registration:

• Register online at https://www.sasspllc.com/basic-fees-training-courses/p/mississippi-university-women/

• Select Registration

• Complete the Registration Information. Confirmation will be sent via email within the week.

Satisfactory Training Completion Requirements:

 To satisfactorily complete the requirements for the Certificate of Specialized Training for Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES), the following are required:

• Attend all training lectures during the two-day training.

• Complete an anatomy quiz (passing score is not required).

• Complete in-lecture learning exercises.

• Complete the 15-step FEES Protocol & Procedures Laboratory using nasoendoscopy with 15 normal volunteers, and completing a procedural self-assessment after each. Signed off by instructors providing verified proof of supervised training.

• Attend FEES Analysis and Interpretation Laboratories and complete learning exercises.

• Submit a post-training course self-evaluation of learned skills and course-obtained knowledge.

Continuing Education Credit:

This course is offered for 1.6 ASHA CEUs (Intermediate Level).