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Interdisciplinary Feeding Team: A Medical, Motor, Behavioral Approach to Complex Pediatric Feeding Problems
Cara McComish1, Kristen Brackett, Maureen Kelly
1Cara McComish is an Assistant Professor, Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Department of Allied Health, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC. The author can be reached via e-mail at cara_mccomish@med.unc.eduKristen Brackett is a Speech-Language Pathologist, Rehabilitation Therapies, Co-Director, UNC Pediatric Feeding Team, UNC Children's Hospital, Chapel Hill, NC.Maureen Kelly is an Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Gastroenterology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC.Christine Hall is a Pediatric Clinical Dietitian, UNC Children's Hospital Pediatric Specialty Clinics, Chapel Hill, NC.Sharon Wallace is a Pediatric Clinical Dietitian, UNC Children's Hospital Pediatric Specialty Clinics, Chapel Hill, NC.Victoria Powell is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Gastroenterology, UNC Children's Hospital, Chapel Hill, NC.
Insights
An interdisciplinary team approach is crucial for effectively treating complex pediatric feeding problems. This medical, motor, and behavioral strategy ensures comprehensive care for children facing feeding challenges.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Gastroenterology
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Pediatric feeding difficulties are complex and multifactorial.
- Effective treatment requires a coordinated, interdisciplinary approach.
- Individualized care plans are essential for children with complex feeding issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present an interdisciplinary treatment model for pediatric feeding problems.
- To outline a medical, motor, and behavioral approach to feeding therapy.
- To describe the roles of various specialists within a feeding team.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing a robust interdisciplinary feeding team.
- Implementing a combined medical, motor, and behavioral treatment strategy.
- Integrating expertise from pediatric gastroenterology nurse practitioners, registered dietitians, and speech-language pathologists.
Main Results:
- The described interdisciplinary team effectively addresses complex pediatric feeding problems.
- Each team member's specific expertise contributes to comprehensive patient support.
- The collaborative approach ensures holistic care for children and their families.
Conclusions:
- An interdisciplinary team is vital for managing complex pediatric feeding disorders.
- A medical, motor, and behavioral approach, supported by a specialized team, offers effective treatment.
- Collaboration among pediatric gastroenterology nurse practitioners, dietitians, and speech pathologists is key to successful outcomes.
Abstract:
Pediatric feeding difficulties are complex and multifactorial in nature. Children who need assessment and individualized treatment for complex feeding problems are best served by an interdisciplinary treatment team. The medical, motor, and behavioral approach to treating pediatric feeding problems is presented as an avenue to treatment. By necessity, this approach requires a well-functioning interdisciplinary team, including nurses, physicians, registered dietitians, and feeding therapists (speech-language pathologists, occupational and physical therapists). We describe a robust interdisciplinary feeding team that applies a medical, motor, and behavioral approach to treating pediatric feeding problems. Within this team, pediatric gastroenterology nurse practitioners, dietitians, and speech pathologists function as integral members of the team. Description of each team member's expertise is provided and how they operate to support children with feeding problems and their families.
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