Mobile FEES
Mobile FEES (Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing) for Hospitals, Clinics & Healthcare Facilities in the Black Hills
Advanced Instrumental Swallowing Assessment Brought Directly to Your Facility
DSSC provides Mobile Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) services for adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients experiencing swallowing concerns. Our mobile FEES service allows qualified facilities, clinics, and healthcare providers to access advanced instrumental swallowing assessment without requiring patients to leave their current care environment.
FEES is an instrumental swallowing evaluation completed by a specially trained speech-language pathologist (SLP) that provides direct visualization of swallowing function, airway protection, and upper airway anatomy.
By bringing FEES directly to healthcare settings, DSSC helps reduce barriers related to transportation, scheduling delays, and patient mobility while supporting timely, evidence-based dysphagia management.
What Is FEES?
A Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) uses a small, flexible nasopharyngoscope that is gently passed through the nasal passage to allow visualization of the throat (pharynx) and larynx during swallowing.
During the evaluation, the clinician observes swallowing function while the patient consumes a variety of food and liquid consistencies. This allows assessment of swallowing safety, efficiency, airway protection, and the effectiveness of compensatory strategies.
FEES may provide valuable information about:
Aspiration and penetration
Pharyngeal residue
Secretion management
Swallowing physiology
Airway protection
Vocal fold movement and function
Upper airway structures
Effects of positioning and compensatory strategies
Diet and liquid recommendations
Dysphagia treatment planning
Why Choose Mobile FEES?
Mobile FEES offers unique advantages for patients and healthcare teams by allowing instrumental swallowing assessment in the patient’s current environment.
Benefits include:
No Radiation Exposure
FEES does not use X-ray imaging and does not involve radiation exposure.
Evaluation With Real Food and Liquids
Unlike a modified barium swallow study (MBSS), FEES allows clinicians to evaluate swallowing using typical food and liquid consistencies (with appropriate preparation and safety considerations).
Assessment Within the Patient’s Natural Environment
Patients can be evaluated in familiar surroundings, with their typical positioning, routines, and care team available.
Increased Access for Medically Complex Patients
Mobile FEES may be especially beneficial for individuals who have difficulty accessing off-site appointments due to:
Mobility limitations
Transportation challenges
Tracheostomy or ventilator dependence
Medical complexity
Difficulty tolerating transfers outside the facility
Real-Time Assessment of Strategies
Clinicians can trial and assess compensatory strategies during the evaluation to determine what approaches best support swallowing safety and efficiency.
Efficient Scheduling and Timely Recommendations
Mobile FEES can help reduce delays associated with outside referrals and provide timely information to guide dysphagia management.
Benefits for Healthcare Facilities & Referral Partners
Bringing Mobile FEES to your facility allows your team to provide advanced swallowing assessment while minimizing disruption for patients and staff.
Benefits include:
Reduced need for transportation to outside facilities
Reduced burden on staff who accompany patients off-site
Improved access for patients who may not be able to travel easily
Collaboration with the patient’s existing care team
Objective information to guide diet recommendations and treatment decisions
Detailed documentation to support ongoing dysphagia management
Ability to evaluate swallowing function and treatment strategies in the patient’s current setting
Mobile FEES may assist teams with clinical decisions related to:
Diet advancement or modification
Aspiration risk management
Swallowing therapy recommendations
Compensatory strategies
Need for additional medical follow-up
Ongoing care planning
Who May Benefit From Mobile FEES?
Mobile FEES may be appropriate for individuals experiencing swallowing concerns related to:
Stroke
Traumatic brain injury
Dementia and cognitive decline
Parkinson’s disease
Multiple sclerosis
Head and neck cancer
Neurological conditions
Respiratory conditions
Complex medical diagnoses
Changes in swallowing function following illness, hospitalization, or surgery
Who We Partner With
DSSC provides Mobile FEES services for qualifying healthcare settings, including:
Hospitals
Skilled nursing facilities
Long-term acute care facilities (LTACH)
Rehabilitation facilities
ENT offices
Physician offices
Other healthcare organizations
Bring Mobile FEES to Your Facility
DSSC partners with healthcare teams throughout Rapid City and the surrounding Black Hills region to provide specialized swallowing assessment services where patients need them most.
Contact DSSC to discuss Mobile FEES services for your facility, clinic, or practice.
