Speech Pathology
Advancing Speech Pathology Practice in the ICU
Course Aim
Developed by Senior Intensive Care Unit (ICU) clinicians and Allied Health educators, The Alfred’s Advancing Speech Pathology Practice in the ICU provides Speech Pathologists with essential knowledge of the ICU environment and the Speech Pathologist’s role within it.
This one-day course is designed for clinicians new to managing ICU caseloads, clinicians transitioning into ICU practice, and those seeking to build knowledge and confidence in this specialised area.
Whilst tailored for Speech Pathologists, this course may also be relevant for clinicians working in the ICU setting, including those in Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Nutrition, Social Work, Psychology, Nursing, Medicine, and Pharmacy.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Describe the ICU environment, including common medications, lines and devices and ventilation modes/settings, and explain their implications for speech pathology assessment and intervention.
- Incorporate the interprofessional context in the ICU setting and its importance for providing high-quality patient care.
- Explain how critical illness and malnutrition may impact swallowing, communication and airway protection in critically ill patients.
- iApply appropriate assessment and management strategies for communication and swallowing in ICU, including communication supports for patients with endotracheal or tracheostomy tubes, and the use of FEES-informed dysphagia management.
Topics Include:
- Introduction to ventilation
- Critical illness and dysphagia including FEES
- Communication across the ICU continuum including high tech communication devices
- ICU specialist presentations including medical, nursing, physiotherapy and nutrition
Key Presenters
Louisa Greenham
BHlthSci, MSpPath
Louisa is a Senior Speech Pathologist and Allied Health Team Lead in the Alfred ICU, with expertise in tracheostomy management, ventilator dependency and flexible endoscopic swallow evaluations in critical care. She has worked across intensive care settings in both the Victorian public and private health sectors, as well as spending six years in the UK National Health Service and long-term mechanical ventilation units.
Tanya Blyth
BSpPath
Tanya is a Senior Speech Pathologist at The Alfred working in ICU. She has worked as a Speech Pathologist for over 20 years, with a special interest in acute care and oncology. Tanya has worked in Victorian private and public health sectors and within the National Health Service (NHS) in UK. Her clinical interests include tracheostomy management and ICU-acquired communication and swallowing impairments.
Dr Scott Bradley
BAppSc (Physio), BSc (Hons), Grad Dip Exerc Sports Sci, PhD
Scott is a Senior Physiotherapist at The Alfred in ICU, a role he has held for over 20 years. He first joined The Alfred in 1992, before undertaking postgraduate studies, including a PhD in Exercise Physiology. During this time, he was appointed Senior Lecturer in the School of Physiotherapy at La Trobe University. In 2003, Scott returned to The Alfred full-time as the Senior Physiotherapist in ICU. Over the past two decades, he has led the hospital’s seven-day ICU physiotherapy service, encompassing specialist heart and lung transplant services, artificial heart technology (VADs), ECMO, Burns and Trauma. In addition, Scott has appointments as a sessional lecturer at both La Trobe University and Monash University, alongside a number of international physiotherapy affiliations in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Korea.
Chloe Fisher
BOccThy
Chloe is a Senior Occupational Therapist at the Alfred ICU specialising in providing early assessment and rehabilitation in Intensive Care. After initially commencing her career in Melbourne, Chloe moved to London in 2018. While in London, she gained ICU experience whilst working at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital and Kings College Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. Chloe has experience in the establishment of Occupational Therapy services within the Intensive Care environment and has developed the Occupational Therapy service in the Alfred Intensive Care.
Associate Professor Emma Ridley
BNutriDietet, APD, MPH, PhD
Emma is a Senior ICU Dietitian, co-lead of the ICU Nutrition service and lead of research for dietetics and nutrition at The Alfred. Emma has worked at The Alfred for 20 years and with ICU for 18. Emma also leads the Nutrition Program at the ANZIC-RC at Monday University. Emma has a keen interest in understanding the impact of nutrition on recovery from critical illness, with a particular focus on extended nutrition interventions. She has published more than 100 scientific articles and is regularly invited to speak at national and international conferences as an expert in critical care nutrition.
We acknowledge the people of the Kulin Nation, the traditional custodians and pay our respects to their culture and their Elders past, present and emerging. We welcome all cultures, nationalities and religions. Being inclusive and providing equitable healthcare is our commitment.