Patients may be self referred or be referred by their physician for a sleep evaluation. The first step is a sleep evaluation by a sleep specialist at South Central Sleep Medicine in Laurel. During the evaluation, your medical history and sleep problems will be evaluated. If possible, your spouse should attend with you, as he/she can be valuable in describing sleep events that you are not aware of. This sleep evaluation will help define your sleep problem as well as explain diagnostic and treatment options.
Sleep apnea is the most common sleep disorder and diagnosis and treatment requires an overnight sleep study(polysomnogram). This evaluation is done at the Sleep Center at SCRMC and follows AASM guidelines.
The patient will spend the night in one of our quiet and relaxing bedrooms and will sleep on a comfortable double bed (not a hospital bed). The room is equipped with cable television and a La-Z-Boy recliner and has an adjacent bathroom. The patient will come to the Sleep Center at 8 p.m. the night of their study prepared to spend the night and the study will conclude at 5 a.m. the next morning. The patient’s sleep is monitored by a sleep tech from a central room across the hall. The patient should not have to miss work to have the evaluation unless they work the night shift.
Most insurance companies and Medicare will pay for the exam and for any equipment (CPAP Machine) needed to assist with your condition. We are in the network with all major insurance carriers in the area.