Medical Setting Considerations for the Speech-Language Pathologist

Book excerpt: Medical Setting Considerations for the Speech-Language Pathologist is the first volume in the “Medical Speech-Language Pathology” book series. The series provides graduate students, clinicians, and clinical researchers with functional, comprehensive material to enhance practice in a medical setting. This first book in the series will foster an appreciation of the unique skill set and knowledge base needed by a medical speech-language pathologist. The chapters contain information applicable to a broad range of medical and rehabilitation settings, while delving deeper into complex topics that merit extra attention, such as neuroimaging methods and medication side effects. Readers will come to appreciate the many roles and responsibilities of the speech-language pathologist in the medical setting, across the continuum of care. They will gain familiarity with broader organizational issues, such as accreditation, billing, and medical team members, as well as the specific clinical populations often encountered in medical settings, such as individuals with Parkinson’s disease, delirium, or tongue cancer. Throughout the book, case studies are used to highlight the role of the medical SLP, and to underscore the remarkably dynamic and complex caseloads encountered by the medical SLP. Medical Setting Considerations for the Speech-Language Pathologist is authored by experienced professionals and content experts who transform the research literature into clinically applicable and digestible information, with the series editors Kristie A. Spencer and Jacqueline Daniels leading the cohort.