What Is FEES?
A safe, accurate, and clinically proven way to see exactly what is happening when your resident swallows — right at the bedside, without leaving your facility.
The Gold Standard in Swallowing Evaluation
FEES — Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing — is a specialized diagnostic procedure that allows a speech-language pathologist to directly visualize the structures and function of the throat during swallowing.
Using a thin, flexible endoscope gently passed through the nasal passage, the clinician can observe the pharynx and larynx in real time as the patient eats and drinks various food and liquid consistencies.
What To Expect During a Scopera FEES Evaluation
Physician Order
A physician order for FEES is obtained prior to the evaluation. The order should read: “FEES to rule out aspiration and assess swallowing function, diagnosis dysphagia.”
Scopera Arrives
Our clinician arrives at your facility within 48 hours — fully equipped with a high-definition endoscopy system. No special room setup required.
The Evaluation
A small, flexible endoscope is gently passed through one nostril to view the throat. The patient is presented with foods and liquids while the clinician observes swallowing on a HD monitor. No anesthesia, no barium, no radiation. Approximately 20–30 minutes.
Strategies Trialed
Compensatory strategies are trialed immediately — postural adjustments, swallowing maneuvers, and diet modifications.
Report Delivered Within 24–48 Hours
Scopera provides a detailed written report with HD images, clinical impressions, diagnosis, and individualized recommendations within 24–48 hours of the evaluation.
FEES vs. Modified Barium Swallow Study — What Is the Difference?
| Feature | FEES (Scopera) | Modified Barium Swallow (MBS) |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Performed at bedside in your facility | Requires transport to radiology suite |
| Radiation | None | Yes — uses X-ray fluoroscopy |
| Barium | Not required | Required — unnatural consistency |
| Scheduling | Within 48 hours with Scopera | Often 2–4 weeks |
| Results | Within 24–48 hours | Often days to weeks |
| Cost to facility | Significantly lower — no transport costs | Higher — transport, staffing, facility fees |
| Secretion visualization | Yes | No |
Who Is a Candidate?
Who Can Benefit From a FEES Evaluation?
- Coughing or choking during meals
- Wet or gurgly vocal quality after eating or drinking
- Recurrent aspiration pneumonia
- Unexplained weight loss or dehydration
- Residents on modified diet textures without recent instrumental evaluation
- Patients with feeding tubes being considered for oral trials
- Neurological diagnoses: stroke, Parkinson’s, dementia, ALS, TBI
- Head and neck cancer diagnoses
- Patients on ventilators or with tracheostomy tubes
- Residents on isolation precautions
Billing Information
Billing and Reimbursement
FEES is a speech-language pathology procedure billed under CPT code 92612. Scopera works with your facility’s billing team to ensure the process is smooth and clearly documented.