Abstract
To consider the role of speech therapists within the hospital system, the following problems encountered in one hospital are presented: (1) the shortening of the time of hospitalization, (2) more complex language problems emerging with the rise in the number of older patients, (3) an increasing need to train speech therapists to help patients with dysphasia, and (4) the need to cooperate with other professionals in the local community. Given these problems, I propose that speech therapists should: (1) treat patients based on a long term prognosis of the process of the recovery of language and communication functions, (2) further cooperation with related professionals in the hospital, (3) encourage networking in the community among related professionals, (4) start new activities and services, as well as a system of evaluation and feedback, related to the needs of people with speech disorders, and (5) establish ways to enhance and monitor speech therapists' professionalism.
