 Sleep Center Study
Sleep Medicine Associates, P.C. uses a cutting edge, state of the art sleep facility to provide expert patient-focused sleep services. The Center is fully accredited at the highest level by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Located on the second level of the main office building, this 8-bed facility uses the latest in computerized sleep monitoring equipment for comprehensive sleep evaluations (currently only 4 beds are used regularly). Sleep studies are performed most nights of the week (includes weekends).
Patients stay in their own rooms, that are equipped with the sleep monitoring equipment, and high-tech surveillance systems, that allow a sleep technician who is present for the study, to monitor the study from an adjacent control room. This technician, trained to perform these studies, hooks up the patient to the sleep diagnostic equipment, and is available to the patient during the night if needed. The technician also makes adjustments in the equipment and sensors to ensure that adequate information is obtained during the study.
The study rooms are typical of a hotel’s standard room in regards to furnishings, and amenities, though with some minor modification to facilitate the study, and include their own bathroom with shower. Patients are given instructions prior to their study night that outline what to bring, and what to expect on that night. Individuals generally go to sleep at their usual times, and are awakened the following morning at the conclusion of the study. A breakfast snack is available for patients in the morning.
What you need to know
Patients will typically arrive at the sleep center between 7:30 – 8:30 pm unless arrangements for alternate times have been made in advance and approved by the clinical staff of Sleep Medicine Associates, P.C. You may be dropped off at the main office entrance, or may park your car in the parking lot. An intercom to the right of the main entrance doors will enable you to communicate with one of the sleep technicians in the sleep center who will confirm your identity and direct you to the lab.
When it is time to begin your study, the technician will assist you with getting into bed and getting comfortable. It is important that you inform the technician if there is anything that is making you uncomfortable so the technician can attempt to address the issue. Once you are in bed, the technician will explain to you the call system and how you can summon the technician for assistance during the night. Initially, you will be asked to lay on your back and perform several calibration maneuvers which will include opening and closing your eyes, blinking your eyes, gritting your teeth and taking several deep breaths. The technician will explain each calibration maneuver as you are asked to perform them. As you perform these procedures, the technician will be carefully observing the equipment that will be collecting your study information throughout the night to insure that all equipment is functioning properly. When the calibration maneuvers are completed, the technician will check with you to make sure you are comfortable, turn off the lights in the bedroom and wish you a good night. The recording of your sleep study will begin at this time.
Some people find it more difficult to fall asleep in strange surroundings. This is not unusual for people undergoing sleep studies, and we expect that it might take you a little longer to get to sleep in the lab than it would normally take at home. If something is making you physically uncomfortable, it is important to inform the technologist who is there to assist you. If you normally take a sleep aid at home, bring your medication with you. Medications are not kept in the lab, and the technician will not be able to provide you with any sleep aids. Inform the technician prior to the beginning of your study that you usually take a sleep aid at bedtime. The technician will advise you when you should take your sleep aid, depending on the starting time of your study.
When your sleep study is completed, you will be awakened at a time that you have designated, or with enough time to shower and leave the lab by 7:00 AM. A continental breakfast snack will be made available to you in the morning before you leave the lab. Check out time in the morning is no later than 7:00 AM, so that the rooms can be prepared for testing.
Scheduling your sleep study
The Sleep Medicine Associates sleep center is located on the second level of the main office building. Patients are tested most nights of the week. Typically, patients are asked to arrive at the Sleep Center at 7:30 pm the night of their study, with a departure time of 7:00 am the following morning, unless other arrangements have been made in advance.
You should schedule your study on a night that you can arrive at the Sleep Center at 7:30 pm and leave by 7:00 am the following morning. If you anticipate needing to leave the Center prior to 7:00 am, please inform the scheduling staff so that arrangements can be made to allow you to leave when necessary. Some studies will require that you remain in the Sleep Center for additional testing until 4:00 pm the following afternoon. The physician or practitioner ordering your study will discuss this with you prior to scheduling your study so that necessary arrangements or changes to your daily schedule can be made.
It is important to consider work activities and daily responsibilities when scheduling your sleep study. If you anticipate having a stressful event in your schedule the day of your study, or the day following your sleep study, it may be best to plan your study for another date. Stressful events and situations prior to your study, or immediately following your sleep study, may interfere with your ability to fully relax and sleep during your study.
Shift work, or irregular work hours will usually be identified by the sleep medicine practitioner during your evaluation, with special arrangements typically made to allow testing during the time that you normally sleep. Individuals whose shifts rotate will usually be scheduled to sleep at night.
No show policy
The practice discourages rescheduling sleep studies except in emergencies and illnesses that might affect your ability to sleep. If it becomes necessary for you to reschedule your sleep study, you must notify Sleep Medicine Associates, PC at least 24 hours prior to your scheduled testing date. Testing appointments may be changed by contacting Sleep Medicine Associates at (812)-473-1737, Monday – Friday, between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm. Changes to weekend appointments (Saturday or Sunday) must be made no later than Thursday afternoon.
Since sleep studies are scheduled in advance and specific resources are allocated to perform each study, you will be asked to sign a Testing Compliance (“No Show”) Policy agreement for your study to be scheduled.
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