Your Sleep Medicine Institute Experience
If this is the first time you are being assessed for sleep apnea, we understand that the prospect of visiting the Sleep Medicine Institute can seem a bit intimidating. Our patients tell us that knowing what to expect from your evaluation will help you enjoy a positive experience.
Step One: Initial Assessment
On your first visit to the Sleep Medicine Institute, you’ll meet with a sleep clinician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders. Sleep clinician will ask you a series of questions about your symptoms and health history, and may perform a brief physical examination.
TopStep Two: Sleep Lab Referral and Tour
If the doctor finds that sleep disorders appear likely in your case, you will be referred to our accredited Sleep Lab for a sleep study. Before the study, you will tour the Sleep Lab with one of our experienced technicians, who will explain the sleep study procedure and answer any questions you have.
TopStep Three: Arrival for Sleep Study
On the night of your sleep study, you will arrive at the Sleep Lab at a prearranged hour. You will view a brief video that shows you what to expect in a sleep study. If appropriate, our licensed sleep medicine technician may fit you for a breathing mask that you will wear during the study, and outfit you with the evaluation equipment that enables our staff to monitor your vital functions while you sleep.
TopStep Four: Good Night!
For your sleep study, you will spend the night in one of our Sleep Lab’s six cozy, private bedrooms. You’ll find a delicious chocolate on your pillow, and all the amenities you need for a sound sleep. During the night, our trained technicians will record a variety of data about your body’s responses during sleep. In the morning, you will awaken and return to your regular activities.
TopStep Five: Data Compilation and Report
Your sleep study will generate approximately 1,000 pages of data—you probably didn’t know that much was going on while you slept! A trained sleep medicine technician will synthesize this data, tabulate the results, and our sleep medical providers then evaluate and interpret this data to produce a comprehensive analysis and management report. This professional evaluation produces more detailed and effective assessment than the machine scoring used by many sleep clinics.
TopStep Six: Physician Review and Diagnosis
Our sleep medicine specialist and medical director, Jon Sassin, MD, will personally review and sign your evaluation report. In this way, Dr. Sassin helps ensure that your diagnosis is accurate, and that any treatment program prescribed is right for you. You will receive a copy of your signed report by mail approximately two weeks following your sleep study.
TopStep Seven: Treatment Plan
If you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, you will return to the Sleep Medicine Institute to meet with our durable medical equipment coordinator. The coordinator will review your sleep study and the findings with you, as well as the CPAP machine to use at home—this device uses air pressure to help keep your airway open while you sleep, counteracting the effects of sleep apnea. Our CPAP coordinator will custom-fit your CPAP mask and headgear.
TopStep Eight: Follow-up
You will again visit the Sleep Medicine Institute two to three weeks after receiving your CPAP machine. Your medical provider will discuss the results of your CPAP therapy and verify your compliance with the treatment program. You will then be scheduled for a second follow-up visit in about six months. The Sleep Medicine Institute will continue to check in with you periodically to monitor your progress and to help you remain compliant with your CPAP therapy
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