Fewer Resources, Higher Stakes: What It Actually Takes to Be a Post-Acute SLP | Ep 399

Fewer Resources, Higher Stakes: What It Actually Takes to Be a Post-Acute SLP | Ep 399

From Swallow Your Pride Podcast by Theresa Richard, MA, CCC-SLP, BCS-S

May 25, 2026 · 49 min

About this episode

Theresa Richard interviews Dr. Sonal Pathak about the challenges faced by post-acute SLPs and the importance of their role in managing complex patients.

On this episode of Swallow Your Pride Podcast, Theresa sits down with Dr. Sonal Pathak to talk about something that's been simmering in the field for a long time: the perception gap between acute care and post-acute SLPs. Dr. Pathak brings 16+ years of clinical experience across both settings and makes the case that SNF clinicians aren't "step-down" anything. They're managing medically complex patients with fewer resources, less backup, and often zero SLP colleagues in the building. The two dig into discharge planning gaps, the fight for a seat at the interdisciplinary table, how to advocate for your caseload when your DOR is a PT, and why continuity of care across settings should be the standard, not the exception. Dr. Pathak also shares her doctoral research on spontaneous swallowing frequency and how it could change bedside outcome measurement for SLPs everywhere. Visit the show page: https://syppodcast.com/399 The post Fewer Resources, Higher Stakes: What It Actually Takes to Be a Post-Acute SLP | Ep 399 appeared first on Swallow Your Pride Podcast .

People in this episode

Host: Theresa Richard

Guest: Dr. Sonal Pathak

Topics covered

  • post-acute care
  • speech-language pathology
  • discharge planning
  • interdisciplinary collaboration
  • continuity of care
  • clinical experience

Keywords

  • post-acute SLP
  • acute care
  • speech-language pathology
  • discharge planning
  • continuity of care
  • clinical experience
  • advocacy
  • patient management

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: SNF

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