NEWS — JANUARY 2004
RECENT NEWS ABOUT SLEEP DISORDERS
Growth In The Sleep Disorders Industry...has been significant in recent years. A January 2004 analysis offered by amednews.com cites increased physician memberships in sleep disorder associations and the rising number of accredited facilities to demonstrate the changes that have taken place. Current estimates suggest that only 20% of individuals with sleep apnea have been diagnosed, probably because physicians and members of the general public are not aware of the high incidence and the importance of initiating treatment to control sleep apnea and obesity. Education can make a huge difference. As noted by one industry representative, his company's statistics demonstrated a 30% increase in referrals from primary care physicians over a one-year period that is attributed to better awareness of the problem.
A niche specialty involves evaluation and treatment of pediatric sleep disorders, using state-of-the-art technology to conduct a wider range of measurements than is necessary for adult diagnostic testing. The Pediatric Sleep Center (Sioux Falls SD) suggests that symptoms such as bedwetting, breathing pauses, difficulty waking, excessive sweating, restlessness, and snoring may indicate a problem that can be helped with improved sleep habits or clinical diagnosis of a treatable medical condition.
Sleep Disorders Center Helps Support... the operation of Preston Memorial Hospital (Kingwood WV), a small rural hospital that remains open despite the ongoing financial difficulties that have forced others to close. Recent efforts to reduce the $1.2 million loss posted in 2002 emphasized gaining Critical Access status in an effort to increase government insurance payment levels. Offering new or extended clinical services is another strategy that's been successful, such as switching from a mobile computed tomography system to an in-house scanner that is complemented with other important diagnostic tools (bone density, mammography, and ultrasound equipment). Establishing a sleep disorders center is a less obvious choice, but it contributed to profitability in 2003.
Sleep Disorder Education
National Sleep Conference: This innovative two-day program will be held March 29th - 30th, 2004 at the National Institutes of Health campus in Bethesda, Maryland to promote effective health care and knowledge of sleep disorders. For more information, visit the NIH website.
Sleep Medicine 2004: From January 29th - February 1st, 2004, this program will focus on clinical sleep medicine, including recent developments, reviews of polysomnographic tracings, and workshops. The event is being held at the Wigwam Resort & Golf Club in Phoenix, Arizona. For more information, visit the American College Of Chest Physicians' website.
