`` Bronson Methodist Hospital First in Michigan to Offer New Therapy for Post-Stroke Swallowing Disorders

Published on June 09, 2026

Bronson Methodist Hospital First in Michigan to Offer New Therapy for Post‑Stroke Swallowing Disorders

Bronson Methodist Hospital is the first hospital in Michigan to offer pharyngeal electrical stimulation therapy for patients with severe swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) after a stroke.

Dysphagia is a common and serious complication following stroke, affecting nearly half of all stroke survivors. It can contribute to longer hospital stays, increased risk of pneumonia, and the need for feeding tube placement. Traditional approaches may not fully address the disruption of the brain pathways involved in swallowing.

This new treatment uses the Phagenyx Neuromodulation System, which delivers small, targeted electrical pulses to sensory nerves in the throat. This therapy is designed to help restore communication between the brain and the muscles involved in swallowing.

Bronson stroke care teams began offering the treatment in April and have already seen encouraging results in early patient cases.

"One of the first patients we used this new therapy on would have needed a long‑term feeding tube prior to having this treatment available. However, after just four treatment sessions, he was able to meet his nutritional needs without a feeding tube, which allowed him to avoid a surgical procedure and move to rehabilitation sooner to continue his recovery." said Larry Morgan, DO, system medical director of neurocritical care & stroke at Bronson Neuroscience Center.

The therapy is non‑invasive, non‑surgical and delivered by speech therapists at the bedside of hospitalized stroke patients. Sessions last approximately 10 minutes per day for three to six days.

Clinical studies have shown the therapy helped patients regain swallowing function sooner and recover more quickly.

For families navigating stroke recovery, earlier restoration of swallowing can reduce complications, shorten hospital stays, and support a safer return to daily activities.

About Bronson Healthcare

Bronson Healthcare, now celebrating its 125th anniversary, is a not‑for‑profit, locally governed health system committed to its Health and Harmony promise—delivering coordinated, compassionate care that helps people and communities thrive. As the region’s leading healthcare provider and largest employer, Bronson has over 9,000 employees, more than 1,700 medical staff members and 747 licensed beds. Its 70‑location system includes acute care hospitals in Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, Paw Paw and South Haven. Bronson Methodist Hospital is the No. 1 academic medical center in the nation according to Premier, Inc., and home to southwest Michigan’s only Level 1 Trauma Center, children’s hospital and high‑risk pregnancy and birthing center. /p>

About Bronson Methodist Hospital

Bronson Methodist Hospital, the flagship of Bronson Healthcare, is located at 601 John St. in downtown Kalamazoo, Mich. Now celebrating 125 years, Bronson advances its Health and Harmony brand promise by delivering coordinated, compassionate care that helps people and communities thrive. Recognized by Premier, Inc. as the No. 1 academic medical center in the nation, Bronson Methodist Hospital offers 434 licensed beds, all‑private rooms, and comprehensive specialty care, with advanced capabilities in critical care as a Level I Trauma Center; in neurological care as a Joint Commission certified Comprehensive Stroke Center; in cardiac care as one of the nation’s 50 top cardiovascular hospitals; in obstetrics as the leading BirthPlace and only high‑risk pregnancy and birthing center in southwest Michigan; and in pediatrics as one of only six children's hospitals in the state. Bronson Healthcare is recognized across the state and nationally for exceptional quality care by Healthgrades, Fortune and Premier, Inc., and ranked as a top employer by Forbes, Newsweek and the National Association for Business Resources (NABR).