SJD Sant Boi Hospital, accredited as a Hospital committed to dysphagia
This accreditation is received solely by hospitals that have a dysphagia screening system, a multidisciplinary dysphagia unit and a diet adaptation system
Dysphagia is the difficulty or inability to swallow food, liquids or even saliva safely and effectively
The Hospital's Dysphagia Unit is made up of professionals from Otorhinolaryngology, Endocrinology, Nutrition and Rehabilitation
The Dysphagia Unit of Sant Joan de Déu Sant Boi Hospital has been accredited as a Hospital committed to oropharyngeal dysphagia, a distinction awarded by the Spanish Society of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery (SEORL-CCC) and which represents official recognition of healthcare quality in the care of patients with dysphagia.
To receive it, the Hospital must have a specialised multidisciplinary unit, early dysphagia screening systems, offer adapted and safe diets for hospitalised patients, be committed to preventing complications associated with this pathology, and promote the training of professionals regarding this condition. "From the Dysphagia Unit we work to offer comprehensive and safe care that allows us to prevent complications and improve the quality of life of people with dysphagia", explains Dr Isabel Granada, coordinator of the Dysphagia Unit of the Otorhinolaryngology Department.
Dysphagia is the difficulty or inability to swallow food, liquids or even saliva safely and effectively. It appears when the swallowing process, which involves the coordination of the mouth, pharynx and oesophagus, fails. Among the most common causes are certain neurological diseases, muscular or structural problems in the throat or oesophagus, surgeries or treatments, or the natural ageing process. It is important to treat dysphagia, with diet adaptation and exercises with speech therapists, in order to avoid serious complications such as bronchoaspiration, a lung infection, malnutrition or dehydration.
The Dysphagia Unit of SJD Sant Boi Hospital is made up of the Otorhinolaryngology, Endocrinology-Nutrition and Rehabilitation Departments.
