Logan Health – Shelby Sleep Center recently received program reaccreditation from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine is a professional medical society for clinicians, researchers, and other health care providers in the field of sleep medicine. As the national accrediting body for sleep disorders centers, the AASM improves sleep health and promotes high-quality, patient-centered care through advocacy, education, strategic research, and practice standards.
To receive accreditation for a five-year period, a sleep center must meet or exceed all standards for professional health care as designated by the AASM. These standards address core areas such as personnel, facility and equipment, policies and procedures, data acquisition, patient care and quality assurance. Additionally, the sleep center’s goals must be clearly stated and include plans for positively affecting the quality of medical care in the community it serves.
For over 15 years, the Logan Health – Shelby (LHS) Sleep Center has been taking care of patients from Shelby and surrounding areas. Deborah Hoffman, MD, a provider at Logan Health Heart & Lung, is LHS’s Sleep Lab Medical Director. Dr. Hoffman has a robust background in the study of sleep apnea and believes that identifying untreated sleep disorders can help positively impact patients’ lives and reduce associated medical costs.
“Local patients who need to see a primary care provider for a referral or complete a sleep study have the opportunity to receive the same great care at Logan Health – Shelby rather than traveling to Great Falls or Kalispell,” said Hoffman. “I am also available for consults via telehealth when I am not on site.”
The sleep center team at LHS, including Dr. Hoffman; Bridget Blevins, RPSGT and Sleep Lab Director; Kaitlin Stapleton, RPSGT and night sleep technician; Shanae Peters, RRT; offer comprehensive skills to help screen, educate, test, manage and track sleep patterns to alleviate sleep apnea, maximize wellness and improve the quality of life for patients. LHS has two recently remodeled sleep rooms, creating a calm and comfortable space for patients during their sleep study.
A sleep study is an all-night study designed to retrieve vital information about a patient’s health. Small sensors are attached to the patient’s head, chest, stomach and legs by a sleep technologist. No needles are used, and patients can expect no unusual discomfort. Once sensors are attached, patients can read, watch TV, or use the restroom until their normal bedtime. Sleep patterns are monitored by the technologist via audio and video feeds during the night. LHS also proudly offers home study testing.
One of the most common sleep disorders is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), where there is a physical obstruction in the upper airway. The obstruction can be the tongue, tonsils, uvula, soft palette, or any other tissue that prevents normal breathing. When the body relaxes, gravity pulls the obstruction down into the airway, increasing the chance of experiencing an apneic event. If left untreated, OSA increases the risk of a heart attack, heart disease and stroke.
If you think you might have a sleep disorder, a good place to start is to talk to your primary care provider. The sleep center staff Logan Health – Shelby are also available to help address your concerns at (406) 434-3249.