The Little Idea that Could

The IDDSI’s global aspirations have quickly built a welcome following

Silicon Valley’s outsized egos are renowned for claiming that their business-launch-in-a- basement idea can sweep across the world. Some make it, most don’t. But when an idea catches on, it’s remarkable how momentum can take over.

This makes me all the more impressed with how the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) has managed to become a global movement. It’s astounding what they’ve achieved in their relatively short life span. That’s why we’re such big proponents at Burlodge to support their efforts.

What it takes to get an organization like the IDDSI up, running and effectively implemented the world over calls for remarkable commitment. To form a working body and develop the framework is Herculean on its own. Follow that with encouraging nations across the globe to accept and adopt the approach only magnifies the undertaking. And to think, those steps effectively get the IDDSI to starting line.

Education Moves the Ball Forward

Now the real work begins – adoption, implementation and education. But before we get there, official representative bodies have to endorse it, a range of industries have to back it and boost it, and at the frontline those staff who are responsible for feeding the patients must have a clear understanding of what’s involved.

Educating food service operations is a critical piece of the puzzle and that’s made all the more challenging given the worldwide scope of the effort.

Co-Chair of the IDDSI, Peter Lam, recognizes that imposing the standards is not the right approach. He says that the IDDSI has never been mandated, nor was that ever the intention.

“We intentionally asked the international community not to do that. We wanted them to adopt the standards because they believe and understand that it is the right thing to do to improve safety and adoption should happen at the grassroots level.”

He adds that many countries that have tried to mandate national standards found that the uptake was limited because people felt that they were forced to change.

Resources that Reach Across the World

Most impressive is that the IDDSI has patiently stuck with developing the program required to produce the information. They then help healthcare centres integrate the practices into the day-to-day operations. What started as an initiative that would establish common ground on the terminology to be used, a growing chorus of operations encouraged the organization to keep strengthening these international standards.

The result is an abundance of helpful information to better guide operations. Have a look at the IDDSI implementation guides here. The organization is now starting to translate its resources into a number of languages.

“We’ve made it a goal to reach out to all ages, care settings and cultures,” says Peter. “Canada has pioneered the web series 101 (introduction), 201 (testing methods) and 301 (implementation journey), all of which can be found on our YouTube channel.

“For the 101 series we have the videos translated into French, Spanish and German. The Hebrew and Dutch webinars are currently being prepared,” notes Peter. With clients in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and across southeast Asia requesting materials, we’ll soon have resources and videos translated as well.”

Getting People Invested

Still, the realities of time-pressed food professionals are an all-too-common theme.

If you want to go directly to their YouTube channel, which is filled with instructional videos, you can locate that here.

I hope you find it helpful. If you know any Silicon Valley sorts who could use some tips on reaching out to the world, maybe send it along to them.

Next, I’ll be looking at some of the issues around uptake and implementation. Stand by for more about the IDDSI.