Early identification of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a global priority and research shows that language deficits are significant early indicators. This course will focus on the best assessments and patterns of cognitive-linguistic performance that differentiate MCI from healthy aging, and the role of the SLP.

Practice in the assessment and management of dysphagia can vary both within a facility and across facility settings. This variation has an impact on patient outcomes as well as the ability to have effective interdisciplinary communication for the maximum benefit of the patient. This course will explore differences in terminology and techniques related to the assessment and management of patients with dysphagia, and will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of creating a standard protocol.

This course will use a case study to review the components, administration, scoring and interpretation of the Cognitive Linguistic Quick Test-Plus (CLQT⁺). The cognitive/linguistic profile of the case will be fleshed out with results of additional testing and all information will be used for diagnosis and treatment planning.

This course will provide an overview of the new Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM), which will be implemented to replace the current Resource Utilization Groups - Version Four (RUG-IV) system in October of 2019. The course will provide an overview of all case mix indexes in addition to detailed analysis of the speech-language pathology updates.

This course will provide an explanation of the process measures found in the Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS). It will address changes that will be implemented in the OASIS-D beginning in January 2019.

This is Part 2 of a two-part series. This course will cover a number of basic treatment techniques for adults with a variety of types of dysarthria.

Do dysphagia and aspiration inevitably lead to aspiration pneumonia? Our current evidence base suggests that the answer is, in fact, no. This course will enable clinicians to identify the clients on their caseload who are at higher risk for illness and to identify and address those risk factors that can be modified to reduce the likelihood of aspiration-related illness.

This course defines cultural and linguistic competency and related terms, and presents factors that may affect the ability to provide culturally and linguistically competent care. This course addresses the need for self-awareness in culturally and linguistically competent medical care, the differences between disease and illness, and factors that may influence a patient's experience of illness as well as the health beliefs and practices of some cultures. An approach to eliciting a patient’s cultural health beliefs in order to aid delivery of culturally appropriate treatments will be discussed.

This course will discuss case examples of abnormal anatomy of the nasal cavity, nasopharynx, hypopharynx and larynx in adults, compiled over 20 years of evaluating and treating voice and swallowing disorders in an Otolaryngology practice.

This course will use video demonstrations to present evidence-based approaches for improving reading within a group context. Participants will learn how to conduct interesting, interactive groups that support language and reading re-development.