UNMC’s Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Team provides training

Thanks to a three-year grant from the Nebraska Department of Maternal and Child Health, the University of Nebraska Medical Center is training health professionals in North Platte to care for children at risk for nutritional problems due to feeding and swallowing difficulties.

The Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte is subcontracting with UNMC’s Munroe-Meyer Institute for specialized training in pediatric feeding and swallowing difficulties, as well as technical support. UNMC’s Feeding and Swallowing Team (FAST) is one of only two such teams in the state. The other is at Children’s Hospital, also in Omaha. Eleven individuals from North Platte are participating in the training, including speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, nutritionists and social workers.

Co-investigators on this grant are Jeff Stec, speech-language pathologist at the Great Plains Regional Medical Center, and Judith Mathews, Ph.D., pediatric psychologist on UNMC’s FAST.

Extending care to underserved areas

“It will be wonderful to have professionals in Central Nebraska trained in the complexities of pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders,” Dr. Mathews said. “The new team members are very enthusiastic and bring years of experience in treating similar disorders in adults. This collaboration between hospitals will provide a much-needed continuity of care to underserved areas of Nebraska.”

This year, the team will focus on assessing pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders. Phase II of the grant will focus on treating pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders, while the last year will be spent consulting on specific cases via telemedicine. The Central Nebraska team will be functional and independent at the end of the third year.

MMI FAST members

The following MMI FAST members will provide training: Paul Laikko, coordinator; Kathleen Keller, occupational therapist; Cindy Van Riper, dietitian; Patricia Gromak, occupational therapist; Sandy Houser, nurse; and Dr. Mathews.

More on feeding, swallowing difficulties

Depending on the definition, the incidence and prevalence of pediatric feeding and swallowing difficulties range from 2 percent to 29 percent of the general pediatric population. It is substantially higher for at-risk children (33 percent to 80 percent).

In Nebraska, the exact number of children with feeding difficulties is unknown. In 2001, approximately 620 children with feeding difficulties were evaluated and/or treated by the two pediatric feeding teams in Omaha. These children had been diagnosed with medical conditions including failure-to-thrive, gastrointestinal difficulties and acute and chronic conditions affecting feeding. Children with these conditions include transplant patients, and patients with cerebral palsy, cranio-facial anomalies, cystic fibrosis, cancer, diabetes, traumatic brain injury, genetic abnormalities and autism.

“Due to the complexity of the feeding issues and the need for specially trained professionals to evaluate, treat and follow-up with these children, most children with feeding and swallowing difficulties are routinely sent to Omaha,” Dr. Mathews said. “The grant will afford Central Nebraska families an opportunity to stay close to home and eliminate any financial and logistical barriers of traveling to Omaha.”

A recent survey done by Great Plains Regional Medical Center indicated a need for such services. FAST members hope the project will serve as a model for establishing pediatric feeding and swallowing teams in other regions of Nebraska.