Speech-language pathologists working in medical settings often encounter patients with serious or progressive illness, requiring a shift from a rehabilitative approach to one centered on comfort, autonomy, and quality of life. In this course, Tracie Bearden, MS, CCC-SLP, CBIST, examines the SLP’s role across the palliative care continuum and provides a framework for navigating clinical decisions that may feel very different from traditional rehabilitation.
The course addresses common challenges that arise at the bedside, including comfort feeding and risk feeding decisions, family conflict surrounding oral intake, and situations in which a patient’s wishes differ from clinical recommendations. You’ll learn strategies for participating in difficult conversations about prognosis and goals of care, supporting shared decision-making, and documenting these discussions in ways that reflect patient preferences and promote continuity across the interdisciplinary team.
Tracie also discusses the importance of planning for communication access before function declines, including the use of AAC, voice banking, and message banking. Through case-based discussion, you’ll consider how to preserve communication, support patient autonomy, collaborate with palliative care providers, and approach the ethical and clinical complexities that can arise when the goals of care begin to change.
The course addresses common challenges that arise at the bedside, including comfort feeding and risk feeding decisions, family conflict surrounding oral intake, and situations in which a patient’s wishes differ from clinical recommendations. You’ll learn strategies for participating in difficult conversations about prognosis and goals of care, supporting shared decision-making, and documenting these discussions in ways that reflect patient preferences and promote continuity across the interdisciplinary team.
Tracie also discusses the importance of planning for communication access before function declines, including the use of AAC, voice banking, and message banking. Through case-based discussion, you’ll consider how to preserve communication, support patient autonomy, collaborate with palliative care providers, and approach the ethical and clinical complexities that can arise when the goals of care begin to change.
