THANKS TO DONORS! Clear Answers for Safer Swallowing
- Jul 28, 2006
- 2 min read
Understanding how a patient swallows is the first step to keeping them safe.
At Sault Area Hospital (SAH), Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP) help patients who have trouble swallowing, speaking, or communicating. For some patients, swallowing can be a real concern.
This may happen after a stroke or head injury, or with illnesses like cancer or Multiple Sclerosis (MS). For these patients, eating or drinking can be hard, and even unsafe. If a patient can’t swallow properly, food or liquid can go down the wrong way, increasing the risk of choking or a serious lung infection like pneumonia.
To better understand what’s happening when you eat and drink, care teams use a special swallow study test. The test uses a fluoroscopy machine in SAH’s Medical Imaging department to create a moving x-ray image.
Patients eat or drink a special substance that can be seen with the x-ray, and the SLP monitors how it moves through the throat. It helps care teams to see if food or liquid enters the airways instead of the esophagus. Generous gifts from donors funded the fluoroscopy machine in 2025!
During the test, SLPs use a system called TIMS Dicom to record the test as a video, and review
the results. The system helps them edit key moments of the test, and store the recordings for future reference.
Last year, the TIMS Dicom system at SAH needed to be replaced. Thanks to community support, a new system is here!
After the study is reviewed and edited, it is sent to the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS), where it is securely stored for future care. This critical technology was made possible thanks to donors.
Both patients admitted in the hospital and those who come in for appointments rely on the fluoroscopy machine and TIMS Dicom system. They are used many times per day to assess patients, and guide care plans.
SAH is the only place in the Algoma District with access to this equipment. Without it, patients would need to travel outside of the region to access care. Because of donors, these important tests can happen right here, at SAH.
Community donations are helping patients stay safe and reduce complications. This critical equipment is helping patients get back to everyday activities like eating and drinking.
The TIMS Dicom system was funded through generous gifts from the Northland Barbershop Chorus – who have donated proceeds from their annual spring concert for the last 30 years. Barbershoppers, sponsors and event attendees have all made this possible! |
Donations help us deliver outstanding care.
