The Swallow We Take for Granted

Until a sip of water makes you cough. 
Until you hesitate before taking a bite, unsure if it will go down safely. 
Until a simple meal becomes something you approach with caution instead of comfort. 

For many seniors and critically ill patients, difficulty swallowing can mean choking risks, pneumonia, longer hospital stays and delayed recovery. It can determine whether someone goes home or stays in the hospital. 

Thanks to donor generosity, patients at the Grey Nuns Community Hospital and the Misericordia Community Hospital now have access to Fibreoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES), a tool that is transforming health care for seniors. 

Seeing what x-rays can’t 

Traditional swallowing assessments rely on x-ray imaging. While still important, x-rays cannot clearly show soft tissue. 

FEES changes that. 

Using a small flexible scope, speech-language pathologists can directly visualize the anatomy involved in swallowing right at the bedside and even in the intensive care unit . The procedure avoids radiation, requires fewer hospital resources and provides clearer insight into complex cases. 

“It has allowed us to provide more prompt care to our patients and facilitate safe discharges home,” says Kimberly Wong, SLP, Grey Nuns Community Hospital. 

Alexis Baird, SLP at Grey Nuns, adds: 

“Through FEES we are able to provide another instrumental assessment option that is safer, provides information about soft tissue anatomy not captured on traditional imaging, and contributes to prompt and appropriate care management and rehabilitation goals for patients.” 

It’s faster. More precise. And for many patients, safer. 

Faster answers. Stronger care.  

The impact is already being felt by patients and care teams. 

An elderly patient who once would have waited days in hospital for a swallowing assessment was evaluated in the emergency department and safely discharged home that same day with clear diet recommendations. 

At the Misericordia, FEES imaging helped validate a patient’s voice and swallowing concerns, leading to a timely referral to a  specialist. 

“Using FEES, we were able to see exactly what was happening when a patient tried to swallow. The video helped secure a referral to a specialist and reassured the patient that her concerns were real and understood,” the speech-language pathology team at the Misericordia Community Hospital shared. 

Beyond individual patients, this investment has strengthened Covenant’s role within Alberta’s swallowing-care community, allowing teams to guide best practices and support other sites advancing care. 

A swallow may seem small, until it isn’t. 

When it determines whether someone can eat safely, recover sooner or return home to their family, it becomes everything. 

Because of our donors, safer swallowing — and better healing — is now possible for patients across Covenant sites. This is just one example of how donor support is elevating the healthcare experience for Alberta seniors. We invite you to join our community of donors this Seniors’ Month.