How to Refer a Resident for FEES: A 5-Step Guide for Skilled-Nursing Teams

1. 1

   Obtain a physician order

   Secure a physician order for "Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES)." This is the only authorization needed to begin.

2. 2

   Submit the referral

   Send the physician order, facesheet/demographics, relevant medical history (including SLP evaluation and treatment notes), and scheduling contact info to referrals@camobilefees.com.

3. 3

   Scheduling

   Most referrals are scheduled within 24–72 business hours. Urgent requests may be accommodated based on availability — call us to expedite.

4. 4

   Day of evaluation

   Ensure the resident is available and medically appropriate, nursing staff are aware of the appointment, PO trials are ready if applicable, and the treating SLP can participate whenever possible.

5. 5

   Receive the report

   A comprehensive written report with findings and recommendations is provided following the evaluation — supporting faster, confident clinical decisions.

• Physician order (FEES, FEES swallowing test, FEES 92612, or full procedure name)
• Facesheet / demographics
• Relevant medical history, including SLP evaluation and treatment notes (if available)
• Contact information for scheduling

A FEES requires a physician (or qualified provider) order — it's the only authorization needed to begin. Any of these order wordings work:

• “Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES)”
• “FEES swallowing test” or “FEES swallow study”
• “FEES, CPT 92612”

Because FEES is portable, the entire evaluation happens at the resident's bedside — no transport, no off-site appointment, and no radiology suite. Our endoscopist arrives with the scope and equipment, coordinates with your nursing staff, and conducts the assessment using real food and liquids.

1. 1

   We arrive on-site

   Our SLP-endoscopist comes to the resident's room or a quiet area in your facility at the scheduled time.

2. 2

   The evaluation

   A thin, flexible scope is passed through the nose to view the throat while the resident swallows saliva, then foods and liquids of different textures. It takes roughly 15–30 minutes and involves no radiation.

3. 3

   Same-visit guidance

   Whenever possible, our clinician shares preliminary impressions with your team before leaving, so urgent diet decisions don't have to wait for the written report.

Following the FEES, you receive a comprehensive written report with objective findings and clear recommendations — the safest diet and liquid consistencies, compensatory strategies, and any therapy or follow-up suggestions. The report supports faster, more confident clinical decisions and documents the rationale for any diet change.