Interprofessional Practice for the NICU with Casey Lewis

Guest: Casey Lewis MS CCC-SLP, CNT, NTMTC - As SLPs, we are always going to be a part of a team, and it is so crucial that we learn from those we collaborate with to ensure that we provide our patients with the best care. We cannot offer the best treatment if we do not know what our other team members are doing. Not only do we have to learn from professional fields, but we can gain so much from other SLPs. Casey Lewis is an SLP who works in the NICU, and she joins us today to offer insights into the work she does. We talk about her journey to working in the NICU and the fulfillment she feels being there for her patients at such a crucial stage in their development. We hear about the multidisciplinary teams she is a part of and some of the very real challenges she faces advocating for her patients. The reality is that other professions do not understand the value of the SLP, so communicating your role is vital, even if it can be frustrating. We also talk about the conversations between NICU SLPs and outpatient SLPs and where the issues lie, why you need to be involved with your state association, and the importance of bridging communication gaps. Even though it can be hard to remember, we are all on the same team, and we want what’s best for our patients.