Occupational Therapy’s Role in Multidisciplinary Dysphagia Management: A Case Study

Occupational therapists (OTs) are involved in eating, feeding, and swallowing across the lifespan. As a member of the medical team, OTs may address oral cares, promote independence with eating, and evaluate and treat impairments related to eating and swallowing to optimize client/patient satisfaction and safety with mealtime occupations. The aim of the case study is to describe an example of OTs’ role evaluating and treating dysphagia within the acute care setting as well as to promote quality interdisciplinary collaboration and patient centered care. The patient’s medical records were retrospectively reviewed to obtain information related to their hospital stay. This case exemplifies how an occupational therapist’s interdisciplinary collaboration ultimately avoids a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube for alternate nutrition. This case highlights OTs’ role at both the entry level and advanced level, within a multidisciplinary structure of care for dysphagia management where collaboration leads to positive outcomes for the patient.