Northwestern: Longtime Dysphagia Science Innovator
Northwestern’s leadership in communications disorders dates to the 1970s, when it established what became the “gold standard”  for dysphagia diagnosis: the Modified Barium Swallow Study (MBS) through which patients swallow barium while the action is captured through real time X-ray imaging. While the MBS was a ground breaking tool, a lack of standardization meant SLPs across the world might do this test in different ways, which meant no  two tests were the same. 

Resolving this and other dysphagia issues has long been of interest to Bonnie Martin-Harris, PhD, Northwestern professor since 2016, and founder of its Swallowing Cross-Systems Collaborative (SCSC).

Live Video Gives SLP Students and Clinicians a “Better View” 
In addition to simulation cases, students also have frequent opportunities to observe MBS procedures conducted on actual patients in real-time. These synchronous sessions are facilitated by TIMS Consultant (TIMS Medical, Chelmsford, MA), "interactive video broadcast network that securely transmits live videofluoroscopic signals from radiology suites at Northwestern’s Chicago hospital to the SCSC in Evanston.

Provision of live video imaging allows direct, simultaneous participation in procedures by expert clinicians & radiologists from remote locations—providing a platform for interprofessional collaboration on complex cases via real-time audio & video.

In addition to enabling convenient remote consulting from my office at the university—this multi-party, interactive video and audio connection represents a telementoring platform that gives students many more observation hours, and valuable exposure to tele-evaluation in a conducive learning environment,” says Martin-Harris.

Conclusion
Live, remote medical video and audio collaboration provides unprecedented benefits to students, clinicians, and patients. In the COVID-19 era, students’ ability to remotely participate in live procedures and interactive telestrations, with real-time support and instruction is invaluable.

Martin-Harris described this in a 2020 commencement address  saying: “You are FIRST to experience the introduction of novelclinical experiences through remote, interactive technology. FIRST to be involved in fast tracking the approval and implementation of telepractice methods for patients with dysphagia.”