Centennial
Just three years ago, the Speech-Language Institute (SLI) of Salus University opened its doors with the two-fold goal of providing comprehensive speech-language therapy services while also serving as a clinical training site for graduate students.
SLI was established to compliment the Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) program in the University’s College of Education and Rehabilitation. In July 2015, the SLP program was awarded Candidacy status by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) for its master’s degree program. Shortly after candidacy was awarded, 25 SLP students were admitted as the first cohort of the program. The inaugural class of SLP students received their Master of Science degree at the 112th Spring Commencement ceremony in 2017.
Keeping in line with the University’s hands-on approach to direct patient care and early clinical exposure, the Department of Speech-Language Pathology understood the importance of creating an on-campus clinical facility for the education of its students. From there, SLI was created – joining the ranks of the University’s two other clinical facilities: The Eye Institute and the Pennsylvania Ear Institute.
Using evidence based practices coupled with state-of-the-art technology, SLI offers services to treat both children and adults alike with speech, language, feeding and swallowing difficulties. Clinical expertise and client preferences drive each specific plan of care, while an electronic medical record is used for documenting and reporting all client interactions.
“Clients seek us out because we are offering services that are difficult to find elsewhere and can be extremely expensive when paying out of pocket,” said Robert Serianni, MS, CCC-SLP, SLI clinical director.
At the initial appointment, clients are given a comprehensive assessment to evaluate their needs. Following the evaluation, an individualized treatment plan is put into place and clients come in on a regular basis for therapy. Sessions are typically held one to three times per week in increments of 30 minutes to one hour and therapy can continue for several months depending on the client’s needs.
SLP students are assigned to clients during their very first week of classes on campus and provide therapy and other services under the supervision and guidance of trained professionals.
“The crown jewel of SLI has to be our clinical education team,” Serianni said. “They are not only top clinicians but also stellar teachers and our student and client results demonstrate that.”
Since its inception SLI has logged more than 6,700 appointments - approximately 3,500 of those for children and 3,200 for adults. Appointments have encompassed evaluations and treatment sessions related to aphasia (an inability to express and understand written and spoken language), fluency (stuttering), dysphasia (difficulty swallowing), mild traumatic brain injury, autism and a host of other communication disorders.
Community outreach activities are among SLI’s top referral sources and have been a driving force behind their ever increasing client numbers. Over the years, SLI has made landmark contributions to the community at large through screenings, educational partnerships, and increased participation in local events.
SLI also introduced several specialized support groups including SpeakEasy – a group for laryngectomee and throat cancer survivors and an aphasia group – the first university-related affiliate of the National Aphasia Association in the Philadelphia region. Support groups are open to clients, parents, and caregivers and focus on early intervention and techniques to improve communication.
Since opening in 2015, SLI has averaged a 98 percent satisfaction rate among clients. The success of the infantile clinical facility has been guided by strong leadership, passionate students, and a dedicated staff of clinicians.
“SLI has continued to grow to meet the needs of our graduate students as well as the need of the community,” said Serianni. “Our clients receive high quality care and our students gain a wealth of experience to help them excel as future speech-language pathologists.”
SLI’s goals for the future include providing additional support and resources for clients. The clinic also looks forward to increasing and diversifying its client population to enrich the clinical experiences of its graduate students and better enhance the skills needed for them to become successful future clinicians.
