Swallowing Center at Samaritan Hospital

The Swallowing Center at Samaritan Hospital provides outpatient diagnostic services and treatment recommendations for patients suffering swallowing difficulties. In many instances, swallowing disorders result from stroke, Parkinson's disease, cerebral palsy, head/neck cancer, dementia, pneumonia, tracheotomies or gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The primary objectives of the program are to:

• Identify patients at risk for aspiration
• Reduce the incidence of aspiration pneumonia
• Prevent dehydration/malnutrition
• Promote optimal oral intake
• Reduce dependence on tube feedings

Since most patients with swallowing disorders also have accompanying speech disorders, the center is a collaborative effort of the departments of speech pathology and medical imaging.

For more information call the Swallowing Center of Samaritan Hospital at (518) 271-3407.