Category Archives: Sleep Centers

CPAP, Sleep Centers

California Dreaming

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bed California DreamingOfficials at the Orange County, Calif-based Judy & Richard Voltmer Sleep Center make sleep health a priority throughout the many specialties at Hoag Memorial Hospital.

Even in the population-dense region of Southern California, sleep labs used to be rare. When compared to 2011, sleep apnea awareness in the 1980s significantly trailed other conditions.

Officials at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Orange County, Calif, recognized early on that there was a need for a specialized center to evaluate and treat sleep disorders. The Judy & Richard Voltmer Sleep Center, backed by the resources at Hoag, filled this void back in 1987 in Newport Beach, Calif. More recently, the center moved to gleaming new quarters in an effort to modernize and accommodate more patients.

With considerable resources, expertise, and referrals flowing from Hoag, the state-of-the-art 8-bed facility never lacks for patients. Paul Selecky, MD, FACP, FCCP, FAASM, long-time medical director of the Voltmer Sleep Center, has tirelessly spread the message of sleep health among his colleagues. The result is that clinicians from diverse specialties appreciate the value of healthy sleep, and they don’t hesitate to ask for help when they need it.

Under the umbrella of Hoag , the Voltmer Sleep Center is seamlessly integrated within the continuum of care. Sleep is not an afterthought. Neurologists, ENTs, pulmonologists, endocrinologists, and all readily send patients to the center.

Colleagues on Board

The evidence for the sleep/health connection seems to build each year, with ever-more co-morbidities related to poor sleep. The more apt question these days is what is not affected by sleep.

When the American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) came out with its 2006 guidelines on peri-operative management of patients with known or suspected sleep apnea, clinicians at Voltmer Sleep Center were ready. “Our anesthesiologists asked if we could help them develop a program to screen patients who were coming in for elective surgery,” says Selecky. “That protocol has now grown, and nearly every admission coming into Hoag is evaluated for the risk factors of sleep apnea.”

Hoag has taken a proactive approach, and patients who come in for other ailments benefit from the extra attention. “About 70% of stroke patients have sleep apnea,” says Selecky. “It’s a chicken-egg type of thing, but at least they get sent here to lower that risk. Others who come in for total knee, hip, chest pain—we ask them about sleep and the patient is educated about serious breathing problems.”

Not surprisingly, about 90% of all referrals to Voltmer Sleep Center come from Hoag, but outside referrals are growing. If a patient is referred by a Hoag neurologist for sleep problems related to that neurologic problem, a neurologist working on staff at Voltmer Sleep Center is the one to see that patient.

If COPD was the primary problem, a would visit with the patient. “This is not just an independent sleep center,” explains Trish Stiger, BBA, RPSGT, CRT, manager of the Voltmer Sleep Center. “It is part of Hoag, and they refer from the Diabetes Center, the Cardiovascular Institute, and more. Even obstetricians are reminded that a snoring pregnant woman should not be ignored as if she merely has nasal congestion, as this can lead to complications of pregnancy.”

In line with the large body of evidence linking sleep apnea and congestive heart failure, Voltmer Sleep Center clinicians provide information and education to all Hoag . “A lot of them have gotten the message,” says Selecky. “They ask every congestive heart patient, ‘Do you snore?’ If the patient snores, and has other features of sleep apnea,  he comes to us.” will also send patients whom they are treating for resistant hypertension, as is recommended by the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association because of the link with untreated obstructive sleep apnea.

Much the same can be said for diabetes management. Endocrinologists who prescribe several different medications for diabetes have referred their patients to the Center, again because of the link between diabetes management and sleep apnea  . “The first thing that should be done is to rule out sleep apnea,” says Selecky.

Education and Follow-up

Every physician takes patients to the lab bedrooms to explain the diagnostic tests and procedures, and these in-person consultations provide vital information. Despite all the media attention on sleep, Selecky admits that some convincing is often part of the job. “Sometimes there is too much negative information out there,” laments Selecky. “People come in and say, ‘I don’t want that breathing machine. I know somebody that hated it.’ It gets a bad rap, so we must provide a lot of education.”

When it comes time to dispensing the actual machine, Selecky and Stiger work closely with trusted (DME) providers who are known for their good service. “If they don’t provide good service, we don’t refer to them—it’s that simple,” says Selecky. “That means excellent follow-up, because if patients don’t have a positive experience in the first few weeks of CPAP use, they are more likely  to abandon it. Nationally, the average for CPAP users is that 50% drop it by the end of the first year. We have several of the DME RTs spend time in the Center so patients can try a dozen different masks. It’s like buying a pair of shoes. If it doesn’t fit well, you are not going to use it.”

In addition to the familiar sleep apnea/CPAP combination, officials at Voltmer are keen to address all sleep disorders and treatments. “Insomnia is not a huge percentage of our patient population at this point, but it’s significant enough and our physicians treat it,” says Stiger. “Patients may need extensive cognitive behavioral therapy, sometimes with the aid of  psychologists.

In addition to CPAP for apnea, we embrace dental sleep medicine as a valid option.  “Oral corrective devices have been used throughout our history with the help of local dentists who started treating some of our milder patients, or those who could not tolerate CPAP,” adds Selecky.

The Future

Unlike the 1980s, Selecky says it seems as though these days there is a on every corner. Favorable demographic trends suggest that won’t change, despite the furor caused last year when Medicare approved studies—much to the chagrin of lab owners. “People said that might be the end of all ,” says Selecky. “But as time has gone on, that has not occurred at all. Part of it is that reimbursement for studies is low. However, it has made every lab consider whether it should be involved in studies. The answer is yes for certain populations.”

In 2011, Selecky believes the keys to success looks a lot like the keys of the past. Education, clinical excellence, follow-up, and compliance must be the driving forces. As understanding of sleep medicine grows and physicians know more about it, they will inevitably order more sleep studies.

Those who have worked to be a full service center will remain in the black as they gain the trust of physicians and patients alike. “There is a difference between establishing yourself as a sleep center vs a sleep lab,” adds Stiger. “A center deals with everything. You educate, go out and teach the community, and work with all the other specialties to care for patients—which should always be the number one goal.”

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Tradition of Excellence
Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditations of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), and home to Centers of Excellence in cancer, heart, orthopedics and women’s health services. Orange County residents named Hoag the “Hospital of Choice” in a National Research Corporation poll, as well as the county’s top hospital in a a local newspaper survey.

The Voltmer Sleep Center is an accredited member of the , and features a Web site (http://www.hoag.org/services/neurosciences-institute/voltmer-sleep-center) where potential patients can view online sleep assessments, photos of the sleep center, and information about the physicians. “Many people simply don’t realize that an adequate night’s sleep is needed to maintain good health and stay fully alert throughout the day,” says Selecky. “We are excited about the opportunity to use the Internet to educate the public and to let them know there is help nearby.”

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Home Sleep Testing, Sleep Centers

WatchPAT™ Spearheads Breakthrough of At-Home Testing

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New CPT release along with pricing any day between now and 31 October.

• In October 2010, the American Medical Association to announce a new CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) code for at-home testing of obstructive apnea (OSA), which will go into effect January 1, 2011.
• Home testing and diagnosing of OSA will now become uniformly reimbursable for all physicians.
• Home testing with the WatchPAT (wrist-worn device and finger-mounted probe) delivers diagnostic accuracy at a fraction of the cost of testing, significantly lowering the cost of care.
• Several key studies indicate that patients with undiagnosed and untreated OSA utilize care resources almost two-fold higher—with heavier use of resources seen in women.
• Outpatient testing for -related breathing disorders using a wrist-worn device and finger-mounted probe was selected as one of the Top 10 Medical Innovations for 2010 by a panel of experts at the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic.

It is estimated that over 28 million Americans suffer from obstructive apnea (OSA), with approximately 20 million more going undiagnosed and untreated. The -related cost burden for undiagnosed OSA in the United States—a dangerous condition that can lead to a variety of heart ailments, stroke, and death—is estimated at $3.4 billion.

The latest figures compiled by Frost & Sullivan in 2008 show revenues in the U.S. apnea diagnostic and therapeutic market totaling approximately $1.35 billion, with a 16.2% growth rate.

WatchPAT, produced by medical device manufacturer Itamar-Medical, Ltd., is the industry leader for at-home OSA testing. WatchPAT is approved, available for all physicians as a diagnostic tool, and is poised to continue market domination once the CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) code for at-home diagnosis goes into effect January 1, 2011.

“With the new CPT code going into effect, millions of Americans suffering from apnea can now benefit from easy, low cost access to in-home testing using our WatchPAT device,” notes Dr. Dov Rubin, President and CEO of Itamar-Medical. “Patients can now take the test in the comfort of their own bed, affording them timely diagnosis and treatment for apnea, which is linked to other ailments such as heart disease, hypertension, and obesity.”

Rubin also adds, “Internists, cardiologists, and family physicians can now order the tests and get reimbursed. Using Itamar-Medical’s WatchPORTAL technology, physicians can download the information instantaneously at no extra charge and obtain a diagnosis in consultation with a local physician or via Itamar’s nationwide network of experts, with results wirelessly delivered back to a smartphone.”

WatchPAT tests outnumber the nearest competitor by 5:1, making it by far the most used at-home apnea testing device of its kind. While PSG (polysomnography) testing has been the standard of care for OSA diagnosis, it is anticipated that many labs will also be offering home testing in order to expand their services. In a July 2010 Wells Fargo Securities survey of national centers, analysts reported that 21% of centers currently offer home testing for Medicare patients and 23% offer home testing for privately insured patients, both 20% jumps from a previous survey.

Additionally, another 29% of centers plan to offer home tests in the next six months, a 19% increase since their previous survey. Moreover, 38% of the respondents indicated that they plan to increase involvement in home testing, up from 32% from the prior survey.

According to Dr. Steven Lamm, a New York internist who regularly performs WatchPAT tests on his patients, “With WatchPAT and the new CPT code, we now have the technology that will allow community doctors nationwide easy access to diagnosing apnea. Because of that, the role of the will change. testing is still extremely important, though I want to reserve it for those patients with especially complicated issues, such as , insomnia, and narcolepsy.”

Source: Itamar-Medical Ltd

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Demystifying the Accreditation Process for Sleep Labs

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The president of The Compliance Team seeks to demystify the accreditation process for sleep labs.

After meticulously building a solid reputation in the world of DME accreditation, Sandra Canally is determined to bring her simplified approach to sleep labs. As president of The Compliance Team Inc, based in Spring House, Pa, Canally has long worked on the premise that excellence in health care delivery is best achieved by dramatically simplifying quality standards.

In Fall 2006, The Compliance Team (TCT) got a chance to implement this philosophy in a big way when the Centers for and Services () formally granted the company deemed status to accredit providers of all types of DME, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS). Beyond the mandates that often accompany accreditation, Canally believes the entire process ultimately boosts patient care and improves business practices.

While TCT continues to actively accredit home care providers, these days company officials are also targeting that may be looking for an alternative to the (). “I created the sleep center program quite a few years ago,” says Canally, who launched the Exemplary Provider™ accreditation programs more than a decade ago. “I created it because DMEs were expanding and adding —and doing a lot of business with sleep labs.”

With “deemed” status for DME now long established, Canally can accredit sleep labs that wish to “self dispense” CPAP units. “We can package the and CPAP sales together and you are fully approved to bill Medicare,” says Canally. “The major national sleep organization [AASM] is not able to do that because they are not CMS approved for DMEPOS.”

Beyond the Medicare scenario, TCT can offer accreditation for sleep labs that encompasses all aspects of the lab’s operations. “A big misconception is that the major national sleep organization is the only player, and the same thing can be said of hospitals when it comes to the Joint Commission,” says Canally. “We provide an alternative that is not all about the minutia and jumping through hoops. We believe in simplification. We have led the movement within DME and other markets, and we are introducing these accreditation concepts for sleep centers. Simplification leads to clarity, and clarity allows the provider to focus on what matters most—safety, honesty, and caring.”

These three principles are all part of what TCT officials call the “Exemplary Provider” brand. “The word ‘exemplary’ means you are setting yourself apart from other providers that are just doing the minimum,” says Canally. “To accredit, you need to score 90% or better. So already we are setting the bar higher as our minimum standard.”

These days, TCT is opting to renew accreditation on a 3-year term, as opposed to the old 1-year process. During the 3-year span, providers still send in required items such as updated quality initiative plans, licensure documents, and proof of annual training.

In-person visits can be expected at least once during the 3 years, perhaps twice depending on the product lines. Second visits are focused only on patient care. “Since patients come in to a sleep lab in the evening, the sleep labs that we have accredited thus far have required night visits,” says Canally. “For one company that had three locations, we went in during the evening and stayed through the night and into the morning to see the whole process.”

With other sleep labs, TCT members have instead gone in extremely early in the morning. With this method, they could still see patients waking up and were able to ask questions about the night before, as well as take a peek at the sleep study. “We are not bound by Medicare to do unannounced visits on sleep labs,” explains Canally. “Unlike us, the AASM puts their complete focus on the medical director and the sleep study itself—all the technical aspects.

“My belief, and this is at the foundation of our program, is that the full evaluation should encompass operational excellence,” adds Canally. “Operational excellence leads to clinical excellence. You are not going to have the very best sleep study if you are not doing things right operationally—and that is the big difference between us and the AASM. We are looking at the whole picture of the organization, and they are looking at a small picture.”

If providers, including sleep labs, do not want to get accredited, or don’t need to do it for Medicare, there are other payors out there too. “A lot of the private pay organizations in managed care require accreditation to get on their network,” says Canally, who still maintains her active RN license. “A lot of the state Medicaid organizations are going toward accreditation. It’s just good business practice.”

Accreditation usually takes between 3 and 4 months, and most of the time it is a relatively pain-free process. Canally attributes the lack of pain to simplified standards that are written in plain language. “Providers are more compliant because there are no surprises,” says Canally. “We want their focus to be on improving operations and better serving patients.”

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Medicare, Sleep Centers

Home Testing for the Sleep Centers

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Written by Chris Vu, Dec 20th 2010:

Sleep medicine in the Home and the Lab

With each passing month, sleep professionals continue to ponder the best way to use in-lab sleep testing in conjunction with proper home testing. Economic pressures are driving the evolution, which began in earnest 18 months ago when Medicare allowed the diagnosis of apnea, in certain patients, with home testing. “Medicare again has announced in certain areas they are reducing the reimbursement for full PSG, and this has been the trigger for some to try to be smarter about sleep testing. The financial pressures on labs have made many people more willing to accept home testing.

Specifically, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) targeted a local coverage area for reimbursement reduction on full , a trend that is likely to continue. In a separate local coverage determination (LCD), CMS stated that starting in January you must be AASM-accredited, JCAHO accredited, or have a board-certified doctor as your medical director to bill Medicare for studies. Most hospital facilities already have that, but it will have a dramatic effect on the alternate care sites—the off-hospital sleep labs. A greater percentage of those are not AASM accredited. These rules may improve labs, but will probably limit the number of people who can get care because fewer labs will be available.

At least for uncomplicated patients, the medical community has come to accept testing is clinically effective in appropriate patients. Full PSG will likely never go away, at least in the foreseeable future, because home studies are simply not indicated for everybody.

Experts acknowledge that many in the sleep community are still struggling to reconcile the high clinical standards achieved in sleep labs with the home environment. Right now, the opportunity for manufacturers who have a device that can comply with the high standards of the AASM. Those who can, will be successful. The tradeoff is that those high-standard devices can often be more difficult and more cumbersome to use.

On the other side of the Atlantic, these important questions have largely been answered, with greater acceptance of home testing found in much of Europe. We believe that outside the U.S. the number one opportunity is full PSG unattended, which is a Type 2 device. Reimbursement outside the U.S. also continues to decline. The full sleep labs must figure out a way to stay in business, and the next step for them is to do unattended full PSGs. In Japan, they have a rule this year where you get the same reimbursement whether the test is attended or not. The big incentive is to do unattended studies, because the reimbursement in Japan is the highest in the world.

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