Question
Why are empathy and interprofessional collaboration vital in dysphagia management?
Answer
Empathy allows clinicians to connect with patients on a personal level, acknowledging their needs, concerns, and goals, which improves treatment adherence and satisfaction. Combining empathy with interprofessional collaboration—engaging a diverse team of healthcare providers—further enriches clinical care. Collaboration enables the integration of multiple perspectives, enhancing decision-making and reducing errors. Together, these elements ensure that care is not only evidence-based but also compassionate and patient-centered, ultimately improving clinical outcomes and quality of life for patients with dysphagia.
This Ask the Expert is an edited excerpt from the course, Medically Complex Decision-Making for the SLP, presented by George Barnes, MS, CCC-SLP.
