NYC Health + Hospitals/Carter Offers New Test to Diagnose Swallowing Disorder
Carter is the first post-acute care facility in the City’s public health care system to offer Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) performed by in-house speech language pathologists Carter administers the test onsite at the patient’s bedside, avoiding unnecessary transport to the hospital and reducing the risk of infection
Feb 12, 2026
New York, NY — Today, NYC Health + Hospitals/Carter announced it will offer Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) to diagnose dysphagia, a swallowing disorder affecting 1 in 25 adults in the United States, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. In 2025, over 300 patients in Carter’s Long-Term Acute Care Hospital and another 100 patients across the system’s Post-Acute Care facilities had a dysphagia diagnosis. Dysphagia can be a symptom of several conditions, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s disease, stroke, head and neck cancer, traumatic brain injury, and respiratory failure. For patients who require a tracheostomy and a ventilator, safe initiation of an oral diet is not possible without a swallowing test given the high risk for silent aspiration, when food or drink enters the airway without triggering any symptoms such as a cough. Access to in-house FEES testing in the Skilled Nursing Facility and Long-Term Acute Care Hospital settings is important for resident and patient quality of life, safety, and improving clinical outcomes. Carter administers the test onsite at the patient’s bedside which allows the assessment of swallowing without the use X-rays making it more convenient and efficient. The bedside evaluation also avoids unnecessary transport to the hospital and reduces the risk of infection.
A speech language pathologist performs the FEES test by inserting a small flexible endoscope through the patient’s nose and into the throat. The patient or resident consumes food or drink that has been colored green to improve visibility. Compared to other diagnostic tests for dysphagia, FEES is a more sensitive tool that provides a high-definition color video of swallowing function. If diagnosed, the patient receives an individualized care plan to manage dysphagia and decrease the risk of aspiration pneumonia, a serious infection caused by inhaling something other than air into one’s lungs.
“We are proud to be the first post-acute care facility in our health system to offer this important diagnostic test with dedicated in-house staff and equipment,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Carter Chief Executive Officer Floyd R. Long, LNHA, MBA. “FEES empowers speech language pathologists to perform bedside evaluations independently, reducing the amount of staff needed to transport patients and residents to Radiology, and ensuring timely evaluations and faster transitions to oral diets, which positively impact the patient experience.”
“I’m passionate about helping patients swallow their favorite foods and drinks. Approximately 78% of LTACH patients with tracheostomy or ventilator support advanced to an oral diet after a swallow test and therapy in the last quarter of 2025,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Carter Speech-Language Pathology Supervisor Lindsey Hall, MEd, CCC-SLP.“With FEES, we can make that number even greater! Special thanks to our Post-Acute Care leadership, Carter’s interdisciplinary team, and the health system’s Speech Language Pathology Council who made this new rehabilitative service possible for our patients and residents.”
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MEDIA CONTACT: Rafael Dominguez, 646-694-4910, NYC Health + Hospitals/Post-Acute Care, rafael.dominguez@nychhc.org
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About NYC Health + Hospitals/Carter
The Henry J. Carter Specialty Hospital and Nursing Facility at 1752 Park Avenue and 122nd Street in Manhattan features 365 beds for two distinct types of healthcare services: long-term acute care and skilled nursing care. Carter’s 201-bed Long-Term Acute Care Hospital (LTACH) is the only one in New York City and serves medically complex patients, many of whom require ventilator support. Carter’s 164-bed Skilled Nursing Facility serves residents whose medical needs require management and care that cannot be provided at home. The facility features technologically advanced support equipment and highly qualified on-site staff that are available 24/7. Carter is ranked #4 in Newsweek’s Best Nursing Homes in New York 2026 and received high-performance ratings in short-term rehabilitation and long-term care from U.S. News and World Report’s Best Nursing Homes 2026. To learn more about NYC Health + Hospitals/Carter or to schedule an appointment/tour, please call (646) 686-0000 or visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/carter.
About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest public health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlusHealth—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 46,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.