HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL
ADULT SLEEP HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAM
Inadequate sleep, whether caused by unconscious lifestyle choices or due to one of the over 80 classified sleep disorders that plague the public can have a severe negative impact on mental, physical and emotional health. The medical practice model would benefit greatly from routinely addressing patient sleep health as it aids in the detection of undiagnosed medical sleep disorders, can prevent the exacerbation of other chronic diseases and can minimize additional medical issues as you age. Sleep health needs to be evaluated and taken into consideration when treating patients and developing a baseline for wellness maintenance programs. Preventative measures including sleep health counseling would seem a valued function in the effort to change unhealthy lifestyles. Sleep health should not only be an intricate part of patient healthcare screening through assessment but in education. Although wellness programs in the form of fitness and nutrition including diabetic education have entered the practice model there is still a lack of focus on sleep, the most restorative function of the body.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recently released a report in regards to sleep deprivation being a public health epidemic and needing further evaluation and attention in patient care. Sleep deprivation can lead to the acceleration of other disease states including sleep disordered breathing. The main barrier in the prevention of screening for sleep in the practice model has been limited sleep health education in medical training and lack of time when entering into the practice model. Health education has proven to be a valuable tool and resource in the medical model helping close the wellness gap as diabetic education has paved the way to show.
We aim to provide sleep health educators as a resource for the practice model to analyze sleep habits and criteria and to confirm which high risk candidates should further be evaluated by a sleep medicine doctor through diagnostic testing and assist those who need to make significant behavioral lifetstyle changes. Where lack of time plagues medical professionals, we lend the hand needed in creating diversified wellness management within the physician setting. This team based approach to patient care helps patients understand the why in healthcare and puts into focus how healthy choices can impact their quality of life. Medical professionals simply do not have the time to explain and assess environmental and emotional factors when treating patients in the primary care setting or to keep up with the reporting requirements insurances dictate must accompany diagnostic sleep testing. This solves that issue.
PROGRAM SUPPORTS PHYSICIANS BY
Providing Patient Sleep Health Education
Guidance for Healthy Lifestyle Changes
Reducing Hospital Readmissions
Reducing Overall Healthcare Costs
Improving Overall Wellness Management
Improving Quality of Care
Improving Quality of Life for Patients
Preventative Measures in the Exceleration of Medical Conditions
Identifying Undiagnosed Sleep Disorders
SLEEP HEALTH EDUCATION FOR STAFF
Education regarding sleep and wellness will be provided onsite for administrative and medical staff. This program focuses on highlighting how sleep is an intricate component in the wellness dynamic and a key factor in preventative care for the acceleration of other diseases especially as we age. During this presentation staff will learn:
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The risks associated with undiagnosed sleep disorders and their correlation to increased risk of developing hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease including risk of stroke, heart attack and heart failure.
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Education for fostering healthier sleep habits, bed time routine and day to day lifestyle choices that help in managing sleep challenges and avoiding sleep deprivation.
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A screening program for patients to address symptoms or medical history that warrants diagnostic sleep testing.
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The process for sending for a consultation with a sleep specialist or completing a prescription for a complete sleep study including all mandated documentation required by insurances.
ONSITE SCREENING PROGRAM FOR PATIENTS
This program serves to support the medical practice by providing a diagnostic sleep consultant to screen patients with the Epworth Sleepiness Scale required by insurances as one of the qualifications to approve a diagnostic sleep test. Each patient will be given a screening questionnaire that addresses an overview of their medical history and sleep disorder risk factors. The physician will then provide a prescription for further evaluation by a sleep medicine doctor.
DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT
If a patient has a health history that indicates a high probability for sleep disordered breathing along with the ESS assessment, it will be advised that they be sent for a diagnostic sleep study.
If a patient is found to be positive for sleep disordered breathing treatments may include medications, dental devices- oral appliance or respiratory devices- continuous positive airway pressure.
PATIENT SUPPORT
If patient sleep challenges revolve around behavioral lifestyle choices consulting and coaching are available to assist them in creating a customized plan to get their sleep back on track naturally through the SE+T™sleep program which provides education regarding fostering healthy sleep habits, creating a consistent bedtime and reflecting on how our day to day lifestyle choices affect the quality of our sleep at night.