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The Finest Sleep Center in the Upper Midwest

Posted on 2/9/2004

The Sleep Center at St. Alexius not only has a new location, but it has new technology and equipment as well. Not just new; the newest. And not just good; the best. St. Alexius has a state-of-the-art sleep center with the finest equipment and some of the most knowledgeable staff in the area. With the only board-certified sleep medicine specialist in the region, the St. Alexius Sleep Center provides comprehensive clinical evaluation, diagnosis, and management of children and adults with all forms of sleep disorders.

The staff consists of registered respiratory therapists, two of which are registered polysomnographic technologists, and Dr. Siriwan Kriengkrairut, the only board-certified sleep medicine specialist in the region. With the physician, staff and new facilities, St. Alexius is able to provide the higher standard of care that our patients have come to expect at the medical center.

The new facility has enhanced overall care for patients with sleep disorders. The sleep center helps patients who experience various sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, periodic limb movement disorder, narcolepsy, insomnia, parasomnias (sleepwalking; sleep talking) and circadian rhythm disorders (shift work sleep disorders, etc.). Most sleep disorder patients require a sleep study. A sleep study (polysomnogram) is a test which measures bodily functions during sleep. Sleep studies MUST be ordered by a physician. The study lasts six and a half hours or more. Body sensors are applied allowing the patient to turn and move without interference. These sensors monitor brain waves, heartbeat, eye movement, leg movement, breathing and more. The data is then reviewed by a physician for interpretation and report.

Worried about how patients sleep in a strange place all night with sensors attached to their bodies? Don’t be. The rooms have been designed for patient’s comfort.

“We understand that it’s sometimes hard for people to sleep in an unfamiliar room, with an unfamiliar bed. For this reason, we made the rooms as comfortable as possible. We use to have standard rooms with standard bathrooms, but with our new sleep center, we took it up a notch so that each room now reflects our higher standard,” said Mike Runge, director of Respiratory Therapy. “The walls are soundproof. The doors block out all light. The sensors are strategically placed on the body to allow for movement. And we have top-notch technology that allows us to monitor the patient as he or she sleeps.”

Standard protocol for diagnosing sleep-related disorders includes a pre-assessment of the patient. There is a history and physical exam (H&P), as well as a questionnaire. The patient is questioned regarding sleep patterns and difficulties. Following the evaluation, a diagnostic sleep study may be scheduled. The study is performed by a sleep technician and scored by a registered or registry-eligible technologist. The study is then interpreted by the Medical Director of the Sleep Center to determine if treatment is necessary, and if so, what treatment should be prescribed.

If you would like to see a specialist regarding sleep problems, consult with your primary physician. You may also call the Sleep Center to make an appointment with our Sleep Center physician, Siriwan Kriengkrairut, M.D., FAASM. Appointments can be made Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sleep studies are scheduled Sunday through Thursday nights.

If you have any questions related to sleep, or the Sleep Center, please feel free to contact Lori Jorgenson, BS RRT, RPSGT, Sleep Center Supervisor, at 530-SLEEP (7533).

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