Ozarks Medical Center Sleep Lab recently received re-accreditation as a Sleep Center and accreditation as a Home Sleep Testing Provider from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). OMC was first accredited as a Sleep Center in 2009.

“We are proud to have an outstanding facility in West Plains that can provide the care the community needs for sleep disorders in a comfortable environment,” said Juan Mella, MD, Medical Director of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine at OMC. “The AASM accreditation shows that we are maintaining the highest quality standards of care for our patients.”

AASM is a voluntary accreditation that demonstrates a commitment to quality diagnostic services and long-term management of sleep patients. The AASM currently accredits more than 2,500 sleep medicine centers and laboratories across the country. The OMC Sleep Lab is the only AASM accredited sleep center in the immediate area and the nearest accredited Home Sleep Testing provider is located in Branson.

The OMC Sleep Lab is located in Parkway Center in a facility that opened in 2013, combining state-of-the-art technology with a hotel-like atmosphere. The Sleep Lab has four bedrooms for overnight sleep studies, each featuring a flat-screen television, sound-proof walls, individually controlled heating and cooling units, and a private restroom with shower. The lab is currently undergoing an expansion that will add two rooms to the facility.

More than 40 million Americans suffer from chronic, long-term sleep disorders. The sleep lab offers a number of studies to help identify an individual’s source of sleep problems, and then work with their personal physician to provide necessary treatment.

“It is important that those who suspect they might have a sleep disorder to seek a diagnosis and treatment,” Dr. Mella said. “The risks of inadequate sleep extend way beyond tiredness. Some disorders, such as sleep apnea, can cause damage to the heart and lungs that can even lead to stroke, heart attack and death.”

Home Sleep Study Accreditation

In addition to overnight studies, home studies are also available to some patients who may have obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is a common disorder in which the airway collapses or becomes blocked during sleep. This causes shallow breathing or breathing pauses and can result in the individual moving out of deep sleep and into light sleep.

Patients who are otherwise relatively healthy and suspected to have obstructive sleep apnea and no other sleep disorders may qualify to participate in an at-home study.

“It is nice for the patients who can sleep in their own bed with their own pillow,” Dr. Mella said. “It makes testing more convenient and more accessible.”

For more information, contact the OMC Sleep Lab at 417-257- 5859.