Consistency. Community. Expertise. At South Creek Post Acute, speech therapy is more than just a session a few times a week—it’s an experience focused on continual recovery and healing, with the ultimate goal of getting a patient prepared to go home.

Michelle Berg and Madison Creel are two talented Speech-Language Pathologists at South Creek Post Acute in Centralia, Washington. Their expertise and connection within the healthcare community in Centralia make all the difference for their local patients.

Michelle works as a specialist at Providence Hospital in Centralia, as well as an SLP at South Creek. Her dual role allows continuity of care for local patients, which can be critical for their improvement.

“(Berg) has that familiarization with the patients and the other speech therapists at the hospital,” explains Denise West, Director of Rehabilitation at South Creek. “It helps to bridge that gap between what happened there to what happens here.”

One of the goals of speech therapists at South Creek is to help patients feel comfortable and confident as they go through the vulnerable process of therapy. The continuum of care and community involvement that healthcare providers offer to patients help them reach that goal.

On-Site Evaluations at South Creek Post Acute

Another goal at South Creek Post Acute is to prevent unnecessary movement back and forth to the hospital. On-site diagnostics with experienced clinicians allow patients to stay in their environment while being evaluated and receiving treatment.

“We have a mobile FEES (Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing) service that comes to our facility to do on-site instrumental exams, so we don’t have to send our patients to the hospital for a swallow study,” West explains.

This technology is paired with a progressive self-feeding program, where residents receive key diet textures for meals, like thickened liquids or pureed foods. This ensures good nutrition while maintaining proper swallowing techniques.

Michelle and Madison can utilize these on-site diagnostics to create specialized programs for residents, creating care goals and timelines that work for each individual patient.

Patient Advocacy at South Creek Post Acute

Madison and Michelle are also exceptional advocates for their patients, utilizing advanced technology to help them rebuild communication.

For complex neurological patients, the South Creek SLP team leverages adaptive equipment to support patient improvement. “We have computer programs where the patients can actually interact to see how their tongue is supposed to be, and virtual interactive machines to increase breath support so they can project their voice,” West adds.

For non-verbal patients or those with severe expressive aphasia, the speech therapy team at South Creek provides personalized AAC devices (Augmentative and Alternative Communication). Utilizing touchscreen or eye-gaze technology, patients can communicate their needs simply by scanning a screen. This creates opportunities for patients to connect with loved ones, doctors, and each other.

Speech Therapy and Regular Evaluation

A traumatic medical event, prolonged anesthesia, or a neurological injury often leaves patients dealing with severe confusion, memory loss, or an inability to problem-solve. During speech therapy, South Creek specialists conduct a thorough functional evaluation of a patient’s current abilities.

“It’s all a very patient-centered approach using assessments and reassessments for language, cognition, and swallowing,” explains West.

The process also relies on family collaboration. West emphasizes the need for critical information from caregivers to establish accurate clinical baselines: “If we ask them a question as part of the therapy, and they tell us they have seven kids, we have no way of knowing unless somebody confirms that. Having a basic understanding of who that person is helps us to know what’s important to them. That helps us to really tailor and make this a very personalized, custom experience for each individual.”

South Creek Speech Language Pathologists: Partners Through the Journey

When a loved one is finally able to return home, the daily reality of managing modified diets, memory loss, or communication barriers often falls directly to family members. But West says her speech therapy team doesn’t just treat the patient; they actively equip the family by:

• Providing clear dietary plans: Teaching caregivers exactly how to mix thickened liquids and alter food textures to prevent pneumonia.
• Demonstrating safe feeding techniques: Ensuring families are confident in administering meals at home.
• Establishing practical communication strategies: Giving families the tools to effectively interact with their loved ones.

Additionally, because Lewis County faces a shortage of home health providers, South Creek offers a seamless outpatient speech therapy program.

“If they continue to require speech therapy services after they’ve discharged home, they can return for outpatient speech therapy services,” West says. “They can continue to progress in something that may not need a nursing-level of care, but want to continue to improve that cognition, that memory, safety, vocalization, etc.”

If you or someone you care about is facing a hospital discharge requiring a post-hospital speech therapist in Centralia, you don’t have to navigate the process alone. Contact South Creek Post Acute today at (360) 736-9384 or visit us at 917 South Scheuber Road to speak with our admissions team and learn how our dedicated therapists can support your path to recovery.