July 2019

IN THIS BITE Updated Framework with Level 7 Easy to Chew IDDSI Implementation Globally (Nepal, Kempen and ASHA Connect) #iddsichallenge winners Webinar Recordings Translations IDDSI on the Move

Updated IDDSI Framework with Level 7 EC

We are pleased to let you know that we have revised and updated the IDDSI framework document and testing methods document to reflect the addition of Level 7EC.  There is also now an audit tool available for Level 7 EC. We have also added some clarification on topics like “mixed or dual” consistencies that we hope will better answer your questions.    In response to feedback and questions from the global community, we have also added some new information regarding choking risk based on our literature review, that we hope will help those experiencing dysphagia.      Find our new updated tools under our Resources page and don’t forget to check our Implementation Guides! The new resources will help you as you implement IDDSI in your setting.

Access Resources

Important Reminder The IDDSI Framework provides a common terminology to describe food textures and drink thickness. IDDSI tests are intended to confirm the flow or textural characteristics of a particular product at the time of testing. Testing should be done on foods and drinks under the  intended serving conditions (especially temperature). The clinician has the responsibility to make recommendations for foods or drinks for a particular patient based on their comprehensive clinical assessment.

IDDSI Implementation in Israel IDDSI Implementation in Israel officially launched on July 10 th , 2019 with a national workshop presented by Israeli Ministry of Health, Nutrition Division and the National Unit for Communication Disorder.  Clinicians, food services, educators and industry partners gathered for a full day of presentations and hands-on IDDSI food texture and liquid thickness testing. The workshop attendees will now return to their respective regional areas, organizations and practice sites to train others about IDDSI testing and implementation.  A special thank you goes to the incredible organizing team of Josefa Kachal, Orly Bergerzon Bitton, Dr. Oshrat Sella, Prof Ronit Endevelt, Dr. Orly Herzberg and Ruth Moshe for the amazing support.  The larger Israel implementation team will now continue to guide implementation based on learning from the two pilot sites:  Assuta Hospital and Reuth Rehabilitation Hospital. Over the next few months, IDDSI work teams will meet to discuss and develop guidelines for food texture/liquid thickness testing, mapping, educating all stakeholders and national, regional and practice specific communications.  Best wishes to Israel for advancing IDDSI implementation!

Updates from Kempen, Germany - the very first IDDSI implementation pilot IDDSI is in full swing at Hospital Zum Heiligen Geist in Kempen.  IDDSI implementation began in 2015 and has continued to evolve as the implementation team finds newer and better ways to use IDDSI. An IDDSI food service manual has been developed to guide food service staff to produce and assemble texture modified meals.  The communication system between kitchen and patient wards are also now completely IDDSI’fied. CI Head Nurse, Gerlinde Roben, Speech Therapist, Simone Werner and Chef Hr. Andreas Pontius agreed that since IDDSI implementation, the communication between food services and clinical services have significantly improved, there have been significant reduction in tray assembly/delivery errors and remarkable improvements in patient meal satisfaction. IDDSI extends a huge ‘thank you’ to the amazing team at Hospital Zum Heiligen Geist for their pioneering spirit to lead the way and their continued ingenuity.

IDDSI at ASHA Connect IDDSI was featured at the ASHA Healthcare Connect Conference in Chicago on July 20th, 2019.  Dr. Joe Murray led a large and enthusiastic group through the basics of the framework followed by a fun hands-on session.

#IDDSIchallenge Winners and Judges Congratulations to the winners of the 2019 IDDSI Challenge! Amy Listermann - IDDSI-bitsy, Speechy-peachy, Yellow Polka-dot Bellini. Debbie Strickland - Minced and Moist Cheese Perogies. Claudia Venturini - Rabbit mousse, mushroom and tomato puree, and green olive pesto. And a big Thank You to our international panel of judges for providing their input and deliberations: Mathias Kraemer, Tibor Paller, Magdalena Milewska, Mershen Pillay, James Ball, and Preston Walker.

IDDSI-bitsy, Speechy-peachy, Yellow Polka-dot Bellini.

Rabbit mousse, mushroom and tomato puree, and green olive pesto .

Minced and Moist Cheese Perogies.

IDDSI finds its way to Nepal

We were thrilled to hear about Australian volunteer SLP Athena Chan who shared this with us: “Volunteering as a Speech Pathologist in Nepal is definitely an interesting challenge and an opportunity I could not turn down". Athena is currently on a 12-month volunteer assignment in Nepal volunteering as a Speech Pathologist at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu. She is helping the department set up a swallowing clinic, building the capacity of the local Speech Pathologists, as well as helping to raise awareness of feeding and swallowing disorders in the country. Photography: Prabha Dawadee training and raising awareness of IDDSI.

Stay tuned for our next webinars starting in September. Recordings for previous sessions are available on our YouTube channel .

IDDSI Translations

Catalan Translation is ready for Peer Reviews! Please help us spread the word. We now have an easier online-based translation feedback form. Check out our Translations tab.

Looking for a translated version of the IDDSI Framework, Descriptors or Testing Methods? Check our completed translations tab on the IDDSI website for the following: Chinese (simplified), Farsi, French (Canada), French (France), Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish and Swahili. Languages currently up for review include:      Arabic, German, Greek, Hebrew, Japanese, Russian, Slovenian, Thai and Vietnamese. Please consider reviewing these documents and adding any comments or suggestions for the translation before final posting.   Languages in progress: Turkish, Hindi, Urdu, Zulu, Portuguese (Portugal), and Marathi. Do you speak a language not currently under translation? Would you be willing to provide a translation? We want to hear from you.

IDDSI on the Move

July 2019 - ASHA Connect Conference, Chicago, IL, USA July 2019 - IDDSI Workshop/Meetings Tel Aviv, Israel – official launch of IDDSI implementation in Israel  September 2019 - American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Los Angeles, USA September 2019  Maine Medical Centre Nutrition Symposium, Portland, Maine, USA October 2019 - FELANPE Congress, Panama City, Panama October 2019 – Partners in Practice Conference, Chicago, USA October 2019 - Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics FNCE 2019, Philadelphia, USA November 2019 – American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Conference 2019, Orlando, USA

Share your IDDSI Story

New IDDSI Supporters We are very pleased to welcome Catalan Society of Speech Therapy as a supporter of IDDSI.  Thank you to Andreu Sauca, President and Christelle Serra, Vice-President of Catalan Society of Speech Therapy, the Academy of Medical Sciences of Catalonia and the Balearic Islands for reaching out to IDDSI.  We look forward to wonderful collaborations between IDDSI and the Catalan Society of Speech Therapy.

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