PALTC23 Conference Recordings OD01 "Mom is starving!”: Communicating effectively about dysphagia, diet modification and artificial nutrition

In this session, we will address the common pitfalls, myths and misconceptions around dysphagia, diet modification and artificial nutrition. We will discuss some of the key evidence and recommendations regarding modified diet and liquids as well as artificial nutrition. We will teach communication strategies for navigating this often fraught topic with residents and their families, as well as with colleagues from other disciplines. We will utilize case-based examples to further elaborate and allow sharing of best practices and personal experience.

Learning Objectives:

  • At the completion of this session, learners will be able to:
  • Describe pathophysiology of oropharyngeal dysphagia.
  • Review evidence highlighting the presumed benefits and shortcomings of diet modification in dysphagia.
  • Identify common barriers to effective and transparent communication regarding the risks and benefits of artificial nutrition.
  • Demonstrate a communication framework for navigating these goals of care conversations with residents and caregivers in a compassionate and person-centered manner utilizing case based examples.

Nivedita Gunturi, MD

Nivedita Gunturi, MD, is triple boarded in Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, dually appointed in the Section of Geriatric Medicine and the Division of Community and Global Health Equity. In addition to her role as the Associate Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Program Director, Dr. Gunturi is the physician curriculum lead in the Rush College of Medicine for interdisciplinary collaboration, teamwork and conflict management. She has presented nationally on prognostication, communication, and social determinants of health at the systems level.

Elizabeth Zavala, MD

Elizabeth Zavala, MD, is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Chicago. She teaches medical students, residents, and fellows in the outpatient, inpatient, post acute and long term care setting. She is a Geriatrician with academic interests that include the care of older adults with urinary incontinence, quality improvements and initiatives that can make important and immediate impact on geriatric patients, and working with the Health Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Committee at her institution to mentor and educate trainees.

Lauren Lorensen, MS CCC-SLP

Lauren Lorensen, MS CCC-SLP, is a seasoned Speech Language Pathologist with a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois (Champaign, IL) and a master’s degree from Rush University Medical Center (Chicago, IL). Ms. Lorensen has spent her career in various Skilled Nursing and Subacute Rehab facilities as a practicing SLP and, more recently, Director of Rehabilitation. She has dedicated countless hours advocating for patients and collaborating with the interdisciplinary team, especially in regard to safe and successful PO-intake/nutrition.

  • 1.0 CME
  • 1.0 CMD Management 


Release Date: 03/29/2023   |   Expiration: 03/01/2026

Credit Statements:

Accreditation: Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. 

CME Designation: Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

CMD Credit Hours: This CME activity has been pre-approved by the American Board of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine (ABPLM) for up to 1.0 management hour toward certification or recertification as a Certified Medical Director (CMD) in post-acute and long-term care medicine. Each physician should claim only those hours of credit actually spent on the activity.

The CMD Program is administered by the ABPLM. For further information, contact ABPLM at 410-992-3117 or at cmd@paltmed.org.

Financial Disclosure Statement:

The Association requires the disclosure of all speaker/faculty/planner’s relevant financial relationships; presence of off-label use of a device or medication; and discussion of any experimental, new or evolving topic prior to each accredited education activity.

If the learner perceives any bias toward a commercial product or service, advocation of unscientific approaches to diagnosis or therapy, or recommendation, treatment, or manners of practicing healthcare that are determined to have risks or dangers that outweigh the benefits or are known to be ineffective in the treatment of patients please report this to the Society’s staff.


The following speaker(s) disclosed relevant financial relationship(s): 

  • Julie Gammack, MD, CMD (Planner & Speaker): Stockholder: Amarin
  • Kenya Rivas Velasquez, MD, CMD, FAAFP (Planner & Speaker): OptumRx: Stockholder
  • All other planners, speakers, and AMDA staff have no relationships with ineligible companies.

All relevant financial relationships have been identified and mitigated.

Components visible upon registration.