Final answer:
The Frazier Free Water Protocol is a healthcare practice aimed at enhancing the quality of life and ensuring hydration for patients with swallowing difficulties. It allows certain patients to consume water between meals under specific conditions and oral hygiene practices to minimize the risk of aspiration pneumonia.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Frazier Free Water Protocol is an approach used in healthcare, particularly in speech-language pathology, to manage hydration and oral intake of water for patients with dysphagia. Dysphagia is a condition characterized by difficulty in swallowing, which can lead to aspiration pneumonia if food or liquid enters the lungs instead of the esophagus. The protocol allows patients who pass specific clinical assessments to consume water between meals, even if they are on thickened liquids or modified diets, as long as certain oral hygiene practices are maintained.
This protocol assumes that the risk of aspiration pneumonia is reduced when no food is present in the stomach to mix with the water that might be aspirated. By following this protocol, healthcare providers aim to improve the patient's quality of life by allowing them the pleasure and hydration benefits of drinking water, while still adhering to their therapeutic needs. It is important for implementation to be supervised by professionals who have determined that it is safe and beneficial for the particular patient.