If you’ve ever wondered, “Wait… are we as SLPs really allowed to be in the esophagus?” — this episode is for you.
Theresa brings on two MedSLP Collective favorites, Christoph Schmitz, CEO of PatCom Medical, Inc, and Laura McWilliams, med SLP + board-certified swallowing specialist + all-around powerhouse. Together, they unpack what might just be one of the most exciting innovations in med SLP care: the PatCom Introducer.
Yes, we talk about scope of practice.
Yes, we talk about billing.
Yes, we talk about safety, quality, trauma-informed care, and why human factors matter.
But what really shines in this conversation? The shared vision for safer, smarter, more humane patient care—and the role med SLPs can absolutely play in making that happen.
You’ll hear:
- Why blind tube passes are becoming a thing of the past
- How the Patcom Introducer works (and why it’s a game-changer for FEES-based clinicians)
- A personal story from Laura that will stop you in your tracks
- How clinicians can champion change within hospital systems (without burnout)
- Real talk about growth, collaboration, and redefining what “SLP scope” can look like
This is a nerdy, inspiring, systems-shifting episode—and we’re SO here for it.
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PatCom Medical is hosting upcoming courses for hands on training for the PatCom Introducer that can be found at this link: https://slp-education.com/l/alternative-feeding-and-enteral-access-and-the-patcom-introducer-live-in-person-august-3-2025-new-york-new-york/67aba77b-7fef-46b4-b7c2-3b9146f85fbe
Visit Patcom Medical's Website here
Christoph Schmitz is an experienced medical device expert, entrepreneur, and inventor. Driven by the desire to help clinicians provide best patient care, he takes pride in creating innovative device solutions in the field of Speech Language Pathology. As the CEO of PatCom Medical Inc., his goals include giving more patients access to instrumental swallow assessments and raising the customer service experience for SLPs to a new level.
Laura McWilliams, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, is a nationally recognized speech-language pathologist and healthcare innovator specializing in dysphagia, patient safety, and interdisciplinary care. With a career spanning acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, and outpatient settings, she has led transformative rehab program startups and championed the integration of advanced imaging technologies into hospital systems. A graduate of Harvard Medical School’s Safety, Quality, Informatics, and Leadership (SQIL) program, Laura is a board-certified swallowing specialist and a passionate advocate for embedding allied health professionals into critical care workflows. She also serves as a leader within ASHA’s Membership Advisory Group for Patient Safety and Quality, reflecting her commitment to ethical leadership and continuous improvement in healthcare delivery.
