
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, registered polysomnographic technologists,
neurologists, and Dr. Siriwan
Kriengkrairut and Dr. Chatree Wongjirard, the only board-certified sleep medicine specialists 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 physicians.
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 The Sleep
Center Supervisor, at 530-SLEEP (7533).
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