Dysphagia Resources. Becky Dorner & Associates. www.beckydorner.com 1-800-342-0285
Frozen, pre-packaged line of pureed foods: InterNutra. www.internutra.com . 1-800-866-7757
Products for patients with dysphagia. Hormel Health Labs. www.hormelhealthlabs.com 1-800-866-7757.
VitalStim Therapy. To learn more about this therapy option, visit www.vitalstimtherapy.com or call 1-800-506-1130. For urgent requests, contact HealthSouth by calling 888-734-2248.
VitalStim Therapy is manufactured by Chattanooga Group, 4717 Adams Road, P.O. Box 489, Hixson, TN a division of Encore Medical Corporation (NASDAQ: ENMC). A leader in rehabilitation equipment, Chattanooga Group has been providing quality health-care products worldwide for over 50 years.
Success Story: Ed, age 59. Diagnosis: stroke, received PEG tube. Facility: Armstrong County Hospital, Kittanning, PA. Treatment: VitalStim Therapy. Result: PEG tube removed, normal diet.
Success Story: Johnny, age 51. Diagnosis: stroke, received feeding tube. Facility: HealthSouth Chattanooga Rehabilitation Hospital, Chattanooga, TN. Treatment: VitalStim Therapy, 20 sessions. Result: Feeding tube removed, normal diet.
VitalStim is featured in Cerebral Palsy Magazine, June, 2005. www.cerbralpalsymagazine.com
VitalStim Facts: VitalStim began with a speech and language pathologist named Marcy Freed. A researcher in swallowing disorders she was frustrated with the ineffectiveness of existing therapies. She initiated electrical stimulation research by way of clinical studies in 1993. She realized that the average person swallows some 2,000 times per day, and if the swallowing muscles are not used, they begin to atrophy very quickly. Since her invention has become available in 2003, over 4,000 clinical professionals have been certified to use the therapy.
