Purdue lab creates free resources for providing telehealth services

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — More people are relying on telehealth services to receive medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic. A lab in Purdue University’s College of Health and Human Sciences is trying to make that easier for clinicians and patients with swallowing disorders.

The Purdue Imaging, Evaluation and Treatment of Swallowing Research Laboratory (I-EaT) is led by Georgia Malandraki, an associate professor of speech, language and hearing sciences. Malandraki has created free resources for providing telehealth services for swallowing disorders, also known as dysphagia.

In addition to providing the online resource guide, already viewed more than 15,000 times, Malandraki is also an invited speaker in live and recorded webinars hosted by national organizations. Malandraki said she created the guide in response to the demand for telehealth resources due to COVID-19.

“I wanted to provide an evidence-based resource guide with practical recommendations for clinicians who want to consider adapting their practices and adopt telehealth solutions for dysphagia management both ethically and safely,” Malandraki said. “We’re facing a situation where medical care is rapidly trying to adapt to this unprecedented pandemic while trying to save as many lives as possible. This guide was our way of helping during this trying time.”

The recommendations offered are based on published policy documents, high quality peer-review research, and Malandraki’s 14 years of clinical and research experience in the telemanagement of dysphagia.

The development and validation of telehealth and wearable systems is one of the primary areas of research for the I-EaT lab, in addition to using imaging to understand swallowing disorders and developing interventions for dysphagia.

About Purdue University Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences

Purdue SLHS is a top-ranked department (No. 3 in Speech-Language Pathology and No. 9 in Audiology; US News and World Reports) with research and clinical efforts to mechanistically investigate and treat a variety of hearing, speaking, language, and swallowing disorders. Our state of the art research and clinical laboratories facilitate cutting-edge scientific discoveries, and a committed engagement with citizens of Indiana through top-quality clinical service delivery. The department supports stellar education of its students through four pre-eminent degree programs. Visit https://www.purdue.edu/hhs/slhs/ to learn more.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to today’s toughest challenges. Ranked the No. 6 Most Innovative University in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at purdue.edu. 

Writer: Abbey Nickel, 740-326-0481, nickela@purdue.edu 

Source: Georgia Malandraki, malandraki@purdue.edu