Mobile Flexible Endoscopic
Evaluations of Swallowing (FEES)
The Ohio FEES Coalition is a Group of Like-Minded Speech-Language Pathologists Serving Facilities in Ohio, SE Michigan, & NW Pennsylvania for SNF, Physician Offices, LTAC, Acute & Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospitals with mobile FEES services.
Onsite (we come to you!) swallowing evaluations
Real-time results & recommendations
Portable, comfortable, convenient, & efficient for patients
We will be onsite in 1-2 business days
Our Coalition Services The following Areas:
Your Local Experts in Swallowing Disorders
Here's how we can support your facility and your patients with our mobile swallowing evaluations:
The Ohio FEES Coalition provides mobile, onsite swallowing evaluations to efficiently and accurately identify swallowing disorders. We can be onsite within 2 business days of receiving your formal request.
We use the gold-standard tools: Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES)
No need to transport your patients
Cost-effectivie, efficient, & evidence-based
Introducing Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES)
Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) is an instrumental assessment that uses an endoscope to assess a patient's swallowing function. The camera allows us to view your patient's ability to swallow food and liquids while also viewing the structures of the throat and upper airway during active eating. It is considered a gold standard in the field of dysphagia evaluation and management of the symptoms.
How does mobile FEES compare to other swallow studies?
The alternative to FEES is a modified barium swallow study (MBSS) which is an x-ray taken while the patient eats and drinks food that is incorporated with barium.
MBSS has visual limitations, resulting in a less accurate diagnosis of the specific swallowing issues.
MBSS also requires transportation to a radiology department.
What are the benefits of mobile FEES?
FEES is portable, making it more efficient, cost-effective, and appropriate for medically fragile patients.
​
Patients can see their swallow on camera, increasing patient understanding and buy-in.
​
A complete, objective, and detailed evaluation and recommendations are provided immediately on the same day.
Who is a candidate for mobile FEES ?
Patients living with or recovering from: stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), Parkinson's Disease and other progressive neurological conditions, head and neck cancer, post-surgical changes (laminectomy, spinal fusion, endarterectomy, tracheostomy), Sjögren and other auto-immune disorders, muscular dystrophies, and individuals advancing in age (presbyphagia) are all candidates for FEES.
Partner With Us
Our Service Settings We provide convenient, bedside instrumental swallowing assessments across the continuum of care. We are currently accepting contracts with:
-
Post-Acute Care: Skilled Nursing Facilities and Inpatient Rehab.
-
Acute Care: Hospitals and Medical Centers.
-
Home Health: Partnering with agencies to see patients in their homes. (Ohio Only)
-
Outpatient Clinics: Physician offices, with a preference for Otolaryngology (ENT) and GI specialists.
​
Streamlined Contracting & Billing
Our goal is to make diagnostics accessible and administratively simple. We function as a contracted vendor for your facility.
​
The Process: We invoice your facility directly for the service provided. You retain the ability to bill insurance for the diagnostic procedure, keeping the revenue cycle within your control.
​
Note: We are exclusively a facility-contracted service and do not provide private FEES for individuals outside of a healthcare agency structure.
Signs & Symptoms of a Swallowing Disorder
Swallowing issues can lead to coughing, choking, difficulty breathing, and even aspiration pneumonia. If you have any concerns about your patient's, loved one's, or your own swallowing, contact us.
While this is not an exhaustive list, here are some common signs of a swallowing disorder (dysphagia):
​
-
Coughing, choking, difficulty breathing during or immediately after swallowing
​
-
A stuck feeling or lump in the throat that does not clear with additional swallowing
​
-
A "wet" sounding voice after eating or drinking
​
-
Pain or discomfort with swallowing
​
-
Anxiety/fear surrounding swallowing
​
-
Recurrent chest colds or pneumonia
