Pinpointing Sleep Disorders Faster
By George Nianiatus, senior writer
Communications Department
Pinpointing sleep disorders will be far easier and faster to accomplish now that Bradford Regional Medical Center officials have purchased state-of-the-art sleep diagnostic equipment from industry leader Nihon Kohden Corp.
The hospital’s two-bed Sleep Clinic on the third floor of the Outpatient Services Center has new polysomnography equipment to study sleep disorders, including sleep apnea which results when people stop breathing repeatedly during the night.
“This new equipment from Nihon Kohden provides us with digital real-time video where our fully trained staff can instantly see sleep activity, ranging from sleep apnea, snoring, insomnia and restless leg syndrome” says Penny Oyler, BRMC’s director of Cardiopulmonary Services and also the Sleep Clinic. Earlier equipment did not provide
video capability.
“Any person who has these sleep disorder symptoms can undergo a study at BRMC’s Sleep Clinic but they must be referred by a physician,” Ms. Oyler notes.
The Polysmith diagnostic equipment and two amplifiers will closely monitor electrocardiograms (EKGs) for heart activity, electroencephalograms (EEGs) for brain activity, breathing, oxygen and carbon dioxide content in the blood stream, and body positioning while asleep.
“What’s new is this equipment has better sensors that can pick up respiratory or sleep events,” says Frank Arnal, M.D., FCCP, a pulmonologist board-certified in sleep medicine at BRMC.
“A greater number of sensors on this new equipment means BRMC can monitor children who may have sleep disorders, including sleep apnea,” Dr. Arnal notes.
BRMC’s Sleep Clinic previously had the ability to perform sleep studies on children but doing so now will be an easier process, states Ms. Oyler.
“The hospital is very pleased to be able to offer the latest in sleep study technology. This is a service we are proud to have available for our community,” states Deborah L. Price, BRMC’s senior vice president of Patient Care Services.
“This is the latest technology that meets the standards of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine,” Ms. Oyler notes.
Initial sleep studies are for one night at BRMC. ”The results are then read by sleep specialist Dr. Arnal and sent to the individual’s referring physician. But if obstructive or central sleep apnea is diagnosed, for example, patients will need to come back for a second night at a later date to prepare for prescribed therapies,” Ms. Oyler says.
Most insurance companies cover sleep studies, she adds. Along with having new monitoring equipment, BRMC’s Sleep Clinic will expand from operating three days to five days a week.
“This means we’ll have greater capability to monitor far more people with sleep disorders,” Ms. Oyler says.
A national trend shows sleep disorders have been on the rise. “The incidence has continued to go up because there’s an association with obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Some estimates say 25 percent of people now have some type of sleep disorder,” Dr. Arnal says.
“Sleep disorders can run the gamut from mild, moderate and severe where there’s an increased chance of arrhythmias (irregular heart activity) and even sudden death,” Dr. Arnal comments.
Severe sleep apnea is a pattern of upper airway obstruction that can cause death. “When people are sleeping they are breathing but the upper airway collapses and prevents air from entering the lungs. The body senses this and then it wakes up and that relieves the obstruction.
“This occurs in a cyclical pattern, sometimes as much as 100 times an hour. This kind of pattern causes non-restorative sleep and increased risk of stroke or heart attack,” Dr. Arnal explains. Now, apnea and other sleep disorders will be detected with greater efficiency at BRMC.
“Our community will now benefit from having state-of-the-art sleep lab technology right here in our own backyard,” says William McClain, M.D., medical director of BRMC’s Sleep Clinic.
In addition to the new equipment for improved diagnostics, “We have exceptionally trained staff dedicated to implementing the most advanced polysomnographic techniques,” Dr. McClain notes. “We are looking forward to continuing our growth throughout BRMC in an ongoing effort to ensure the highest quality health care for our community.”
Communications Department
Pinpointing sleep disorders will be far easier and faster to accomplish now that Bradford Regional Medical Center officials have purchased state-of-the-art sleep diagnostic equipment from industry leader Nihon Kohden Corp.The hospital’s two-bed Sleep Clinic on the third floor of the Outpatient Services Center has new polysomnography equipment to study sleep disorders, including sleep apnea which results when people stop breathing repeatedly during the night.
“This new equipment from Nihon Kohden provides us with digital real-time video where our fully trained staff can instantly see sleep activity, ranging from sleep apnea, snoring, insomnia and restless leg syndrome” says Penny Oyler, BRMC’s director of Cardiopulmonary Services and also the Sleep Clinic. Earlier equipment did not provide
video capability.
“Any person who has these sleep disorder symptoms can undergo a study at BRMC’s Sleep Clinic but they must be referred by a physician,” Ms. Oyler notes.
The Polysmith diagnostic equipment and two amplifiers will closely monitor electrocardiograms (EKGs) for heart activity, electroencephalograms (EEGs) for brain activity, breathing, oxygen and carbon dioxide content in the blood stream, and body positioning while asleep.
“What’s new is this equipment has better sensors that can pick up respiratory or sleep events,” says Frank Arnal, M.D., FCCP, a pulmonologist board-certified in sleep medicine at BRMC.
“A greater number of sensors on this new equipment means BRMC can monitor children who may have sleep disorders, including sleep apnea,” Dr. Arnal notes.
BRMC’s Sleep Clinic previously had the ability to perform sleep studies on children but doing so now will be an easier process, states Ms. Oyler.
“The hospital is very pleased to be able to offer the latest in sleep study technology. This is a service we are proud to have available for our community,” states Deborah L. Price, BRMC’s senior vice president of Patient Care Services.
“This is the latest technology that meets the standards of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine,” Ms. Oyler notes.
Initial sleep studies are for one night at BRMC. ”The results are then read by sleep specialist Dr. Arnal and sent to the individual’s referring physician. But if obstructive or central sleep apnea is diagnosed, for example, patients will need to come back for a second night at a later date to prepare for prescribed therapies,” Ms. Oyler says.
Most insurance companies cover sleep studies, she adds. Along with having new monitoring equipment, BRMC’s Sleep Clinic will expand from operating three days to five days a week.
“This means we’ll have greater capability to monitor far more people with sleep disorders,” Ms. Oyler says.
A national trend shows sleep disorders have been on the rise. “The incidence has continued to go up because there’s an association with obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Some estimates say 25 percent of people now have some type of sleep disorder,” Dr. Arnal says.
“Sleep disorders can run the gamut from mild, moderate and severe where there’s an increased chance of arrhythmias (irregular heart activity) and even sudden death,” Dr. Arnal comments.
Severe sleep apnea is a pattern of upper airway obstruction that can cause death. “When people are sleeping they are breathing but the upper airway collapses and prevents air from entering the lungs. The body senses this and then it wakes up and that relieves the obstruction.
“This occurs in a cyclical pattern, sometimes as much as 100 times an hour. This kind of pattern causes non-restorative sleep and increased risk of stroke or heart attack,” Dr. Arnal explains. Now, apnea and other sleep disorders will be detected with greater efficiency at BRMC.
“Our community will now benefit from having state-of-the-art sleep lab technology right here in our own backyard,” says William McClain, M.D., medical director of BRMC’s Sleep Clinic.
In addition to the new equipment for improved diagnostics, “We have exceptionally trained staff dedicated to implementing the most advanced polysomnographic techniques,” Dr. McClain notes. “We are looking forward to continuing our growth throughout BRMC in an ongoing effort to ensure the highest quality health care for our community.”
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