Our Department
Diagnoses typically seen by the Feeding Team include, but are not limited to:  Failure to Thrive, Dysphagia, Cerebral Palsy, Congenital Syndromes, Gastroesophageal Reflux, Sensory Integrative Dysfunction and Behavioral Food Aversions.  Services are provided to both inpatients and outpatients at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford.

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Our Technology
Feeding equipment is readily available for use during assessments so that proper feeding utensils can be identified.  This may include specialized bottles, utensils or oral motor exercise equipment.

When aspiration is suspected Modified Barium Swallow Studies may be recommended.  These evaluations are performed by the Speech and Language Department.

Our Nurses
The Feeding Team is comprised of a team of Occupational Therapists, Speech Pathologists, Nutritionists, Psychologists and a Developmental Pediatrician.  Pediatric residents and nursing staff also participate in teaming on inpatient cases.  All core staff possess expertise in the area of feeding.  Staff who are assigned to the Feeding Team are integrally tied to their discipline specific departments.  This enables clinicians to receive ongoing support from their peers and work with diverse patient populations, while maintaining their expertise in feeding.

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Our Orientation Process
The team orientation is comprehensive.  It provides a strong foundation for learning the discipline specific roles as well as the roles of the other team members and consultants to the team.  Staff is available to new hires for additional questions as they become more independent in all aspects of the job.

Basic clinical skills related to the provision of pediatric care for feeding are reviewed and validated following the department orientation.  Such basic skills may include but are not limited to, knowledge of the normal developmental progression of feeding, assessment of parent/child interaction, differentiation of sensory based feeding difficulties from oral motor and behavioral-based feeding disorders, assessing adequacy of nutrition intake, knowledge of pediatric formulas and concentrations, recognition of food allergies, knowledge about growth charts, and formulation of home programs to enhance positive feeding experiences.

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Our Scheduling
Presently the Outpatient Feeding Team evaluates patients one full day per week.   The program is in the process of further expansion and additional days of operation are anticipated in the near future.

The Inpatient Feeding Team is available on a daily basis, upon receipt of inpatient orders.  The inpatient team also meets on weekly to review inpatients that are receiving feeding programming as part of their treatment plans.

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Our Educational Opportunities
The Feeding Team prides itself in providing ongoing education to staff.  Upon hire there is an initial hospital orientation followed by a team orientation, and a validation period during which new staff demonstrate their clinical competencies.  Mentoring is provided in areas that may be unfamiliar to a new employee. Cases are discussed during weekly meetings so that all team members have a chance to share their expertise.  Continuing educational support is provided both through discipline specific inservices/workshops and the co-hosting of feeding conferences with outside agencies. Opportunities also exist for attendance at external clinical conferences to help develop specific skill sets and expertise in various aspects of feeding.

Clinical leadership is provided by the Managers of Speech, Occupational Therapy and Nutrition as well as the Medical Director of Rehabilitation services.

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