The Thick-It® brand hosted two installments of a free webinar titled IDDSI: An Integrated Approach: RD & SLP Insights for Improving Care and Creating a Culture of Safety.
During the webinar, presenters Margaret Roche, MS, RD, CSG, CDE, FAND and Katrina Woodward, MS, CCC-SLP, CDP provided the latest information on the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI).* They also shared firsthand experiences working with the framework from both the speech-language pathologist (SLP) and registered dietitian (RD) perspectives and offered practical, easy-to-implement strategies designed to boost the impact of IDDSI for those with dysphagia.
Of the hundreds of RDs, SLPs, certified dietary managers (CDM), and dining leaders who attended the webinar, almost 60 percent were just learning about IDDSI, according to a polling question at the beginning of the presentation. By the end, they earned one hour of continuing education by accomplishing three learning objectives:
- Understand the rationale of each IDDSI level. Attendees learned the primary reason healthcare teams should implement IDDSI: to ensure safety and quality for patients with dysphagia. It can reduce the risk of choking, malnutrition, and hospitalization while increasing the quality of nutrition, dining experience, and life.
- Gain practical understanding from the RD perspective on the value of testing and how testing helps improve recipes and empowers foodservice teams. The presenters reviewed the IDDSI flow test for drinks as well as when and how to test foods for thickness (fork drip test), softness (fork pressure test), stickiness (spoon tilt test), and particle size (fork tine test).
- Recognize the elements that comprise a good training program that promotes a culture of safety. Margaret and Katrina revealed the five key components of an IDDSI training program as well as the attributes of a community that has successfully fostered an IDDSI safety culture.
At the conclusion of the webinar, attendees were empowered to:
- Know why to implement IDDSI.
- Get support from the RDs, SLPs, CDMs, and chefs on their teams.
- Train their teams.
- Learn as they go.
- Provide ongoing training.
- Build IDDSI safety culture.
*Thick-It® brand is a gold sponsor of IDDSI. This article is NOT an official IDDSI resource, educational material, or education program, and it is NOT meant to replace materials and resources on www.IDDSI.org.
Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have about a medical condition, treatment, or the use of Thick-It® products. The information contained herein is for informational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment in any manner.