A 50 años del inicio de la fonoaudiología en Chile: experiencias y desafíos actuales en salud pública

60 EXPERIENCE OF CREATION AND MANAGEMENT OF A SWALLOWING LABORATORY AT PEDRO AGUIRRE CERDA NATIONAL REHABILITATION INSTITUTE Abstract The process of feeding and swallowing is essential for survival and is subject to the proper functioning of the neurological, digestive, respiratory, and cardiac systems. It also provides an instance of social exchange and pleasure. Pedro Aguirre Cerda National Rehabilitation Institute (PACNRI) serves the population with neuromotor disorders, with a higher frequency case of cerebral palsy in child and adolescents and stroke in adults. PACNRI’s attention model is consistent with the human rights and biopsychosocial approach. The process of incorporating instrumental assessment of swallowing by videofluroscopy to the services of the institution is described, in the search to respond to the needs of users, with the purpose of reducing the gaps in accessibility, affordability, availability and quality, safeguarding the principle of equity, characteristic of a public health care institution. Challenges arise to finalize the implementation of the swallowing laboratory. Keywords: dysphagia, implementation of instrumental evaluation of swallowing, swallowing evaluation, videofluroscopy.