Unit 1 - Dysphagia
1.2.4. Alert protocol
Why is the alert protocol necessary?
According to studies conducted by the European Group for the Study of Dysphagia:
up to 36% of patients diagnosed with dysphagia report avoiding dining with others, resulting in increased social isolation.
Since their diagnosis, 41% report an increase in anxiety before eating.
55% believe their quality of life has deteriorated.
All of this leads to a rise in dependency, as well as a greater weight of personal and medical care and institutionalization.
When dysphagia is suspected, what should you do and who should you see?
Dysphagia symptoms might emerge immediately after eating or drinking something or in the next 15-30 minutes. One or more of these indicators must be recognized and identified repeatedly in the diagnosis period.
In the event that indications of dysphagia are detected or suspected, the alert protocol will be the following steps:
Inform your primary care physician. This professional is in charge of performing a preliminary assessment of the symptoms and assessing whether or not the patient is at risk of developing this condition. He is also in charge of referring patients to the appropriate specialist within the HEALTH system if he notices any indicators or has a strong suspicion.
The entity's or association's health personnel should be noticed whether it has a health service or not. The center must inform doctors, nurses, and speech therapists, who will carry out the center's action protocol for dysphagia screening, detection, diagnosis and treatment.
It is vitally important to follow the instructions given by health professionals.
These will be in charge of solving all your doubts, questions and providing you with the real and truthful information you need. In case of not being able to answer the questions posed, they are also the best qualified to refer you to another health professional who can. Searching for information on the internet or social networks is discouraged at all times, as it may not be truthful and may even be dangerous to the health of the person. After the diagnosis, periodic evaluations will be carried out to guarantee that feeding is a safe and effective process, since as the pathology that causes dysphagia progresses, so does the symptom.
ALERT PROTOCOLS FOR DYSPHAGIA IN CENTERS
When a professional receives a warning for
suspected dysphagia alarm sign (s), they must follow the steps below:
The professional will be present during the takings (food-drink) for the next three days in the center to determine if the alert specified is present.
Professionals and family members involved in the person's feeding will be notified of the presence of these symptoms by the reference figure. It will also serve as a reminder of the most common warning indicators.
The Professional will make a note in the center's incident book so that the entire team is aware of the situation. Within the next five days, professionals provide confirmation of supervision.
(Source: obtained from Canva Pro)
If no repeat signs or symptoms of dysphagia are discovered in the next 5 days, the feedings will be monitored as usual. Depending on whether or not a specialized professional is present in the center, proceed as follows if one or more indicators of dysphagia are discovered during the surveillance period.
Without specialized professionals to perform texture assessment tests in the center
Referral to a family doctor through the family or the center for professional examination and texture / thickening instructions. Use textures (solids and liquids) with a texture level more adapted than usual until the test is performed.
Analyzing the situation and deciding on the test to perform
Develop rules for texture and thickening
Inform the center's professionals and family about the new dietary guidelines that have been created.
Include it in the incident book so that everyone on the team is aware of it.
Modify the user's clinical / nutritional file as well as the explanatory food documents.