Advancing Swallow Studies with TIMS MVP

Kate Wienman, Director of Rehabilitation Services, guides Speech-Language Pathologists Sally and Sami through TIMS MVP training.

In the summer of 2023, the Speech Pathology team at St. John’s Health proudly acquired the TIMS MVP, a state-of-the art medical video recording system for modified barium swallow studies. Thanks to the generous support of St. John’s Health Foundation, this technology enables advanced assessments of swallowing function for patients of all ages.

“Swallowing disorders can affect anyone—from newborns struggling with feeding to adults recovering from strokes and elderly individuals with age-related issues,” says Kate Wienman, Director of Rehabilitation Services. “These conditions can lead to serious complications like pneumonia or malnutrition, so having this technology allows us to provide timely and effective treatments in our community.”

The TIMS MVP system is the gold standard for recording and interpreting swallow studies. It captures high-quality, real-time images of the swallowing process, allowing the speech therapy team to diagnose disorders more precisely and develop personalized treatment plans.

This vital enhancement to patient care is made possible by our generous donors, who support St. John’s Health’s commitment to innovative healthcare solutions.