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.