Opinion Paper
Triage and dysphagia: Are hospitals in the South African public health sector ready?
Submitted: 09 September 2021 | Published: 30 June 2022
About the author(s)
Kelly-Ann Kater, Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South AfricaAbstract
Dysphagia screening is unequivocally beneficial for individuals who may be at risk of swallowing impairment. Benefits range from capitalising on early intervention, facilitating hydration and nutrition, reduced financial costs for the patient and prevention of dysphagia-related complications. Why then is there a need for triage? Inefficiencies and often non-existence of screening and referral processes require one to consider if triage may be a more viable option in the public healthcare context. Dysphagia triage could potentially prioritise emergency swallowing care and identify patients who need immediate swallowing attention because of the nature or severity of dysphagia. The use of a dysphagia triage checklist could have implications for patient health outcomes in terms of the safety of oral diets, development of aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition, administration of oral medication and overall patient prognosis.
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Crossref Citations
1. Weighing up the pros and cons of dysphagia triage in South Africa
Kelly-Ann Kater, Jaishika Seedat
South African Journal of Communication Disorders vol: 70 issue: 1 year: 2023
doi: 10.4102/sajcd.v70i1.941