FEES Procedure Preparation and Documentation

It covers the full workflow around a Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing, from pre-procedure readiness through documentation of findings. The checklist is meant to capture scope setup, patient consent, pre-procedure vitals, bolus or consistency trials, tolerance, and post-procedure notes. It is designed as a reusable starting point for clinical teams that need a consistent FEES record.

It supports both preparation and documentation in one workflow. That means you can use it to verify readiness before the exam, document what was observed during the exam, and record the outcome afterward. Teams often use this to reduce missed steps and make the chart easier to review later.

The DRI is usually the clinician performing the FEES, with support from nursing, speech-language pathology, or an assisting technician depending on the setting. The important part is that each checklist item has one clear owner and a verification step. If your workflow includes shared responsibilities, assign the blocking items to the person who can actually confirm them.

Use it for every FEES encounter, since the checklist is tied to a single procedure event rather than a recurring schedule. That makes it useful for standardizing documentation across inpatient, outpatient, and consult workflows. If your site has different variants for adults, pediatrics, or bedside exams, clone the template and tailor the items.

Yes, it helps create a consistent record of consent, patient tolerance, and documented findings, which are common audit points in clinical documentation. It does not replace your facility policy, credentialing rules, or local regulatory requirements. Use it as a documentation aid alongside your approved clinical protocol and charting standards.

Common misses include skipping a scope readiness check, documenting findings without recording tolerance, and using vague notes instead of clear yes/no verification steps. Another frequent issue is combining multiple actions into one checklist item, which makes it hard to tell what was actually completed. This template is structured to keep each item independently verifiable.

Yes, and you should. Many teams add their own consent language, local documentation fields, preferred consistencies, or post-procedure handoff steps. Keep the checklist atomic and avoid turning it into a narrative note, so the template remains easy to run and review.

Ad-hoc documentation often varies by clinician and can leave gaps in readiness, tolerance, or findings. A template gives you a repeatable structure, which is especially helpful when multiple clinicians perform the exam or when charts need to be reviewed later. It also makes onboarding easier because new staff can follow the same sequence.

Yes, it can sit alongside intake, consent, vitals, procedure, and post-procedure follow-up workflows. Many teams link it to related templates such as bedside swallow screening, aspiration risk review, or discharge documentation. That keeps the FEES record connected to the broader care pathway without burying the procedure details.