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Brand Takes Center Stage – Sleep Solutions Becomes NovaSom

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slepp1 Brand Takes Center Stage Sleep Solutions Becomes NovaSom may have changed its name to NovaSom and moved the company from California to Delaware, but the company’s intense focus remains the same.

More than a year after taking the reins at the largest national service provider of tests, Richard Hassett, MD, believes the time is ripe for a change. Specifically, the CEO of Sleep Solutions has decided to switch the company’s name to NovaSom®, a move designed to build on the familiar testing brand.

Changing a well-known moniker is no small decision, but Hassett believes the new name better reflects the company’s commitment to providing accurate and cost effective home tests. Factoring in some annoying name similarities to competitors and the change became a no-brainer. “Other entities had the name ‘Sleep Solutions’ as some part of their name, and that could potentially be confusing,” says Hassett. “If we were ever going to make a change, now was the time. At the same time, we reincorporated the company from California to Delaware.”

Recent years have seen a steady climb for the NovaSom® brand in its role as a full-service model for home sleep testing. The actual unit is a small device used in the home and typically shipped to patients via overnight carrier. After that, it is returned to the company when the patient completes testing, ideally for three nights. Upon return of the device the data are downloaded and the results are interpreted by a qualified or board-certified sleep physician. Results are provided to the prescribing physician within 48 hours.

The NovaSom Home Sleep Test is a Type III portable cardio-respiratory monitor with FDA clearance for of adults with possible . Predictive accuracy of the test, night for night, has been established in two peer-reviewed publications comparing the device to PSG.¹,²

Three sensors record the same five physiological parameters that use to diagnose OSA: , , heart rate, airflow (oral & nasal), and snoring. The first sensor is a belt that goes around the chest to determine respiratory excursions. The second is an oxygen sensor on the finger, and finally a sensor beneath the nose detects the snoring sound and air flow. This acoustic airflow sensor is a patented device utilizing noise cancellation technology, which has demonstrated a highly linear relationship to the Hans Rudolph pneumotachograph – a standard of airflow measurement used by pulmonologists.

Clinicians appreciate the unit’s capacity to store data for three nights, and users benefit from the device’s ability to literally speak via mechanical voice. “Similarly to a GPS, the NovaSom device talks patients through the procedure,” explains Hassett. “Even if patients have not had access to the Web site or seen the instruction materials that come with the test, the device will actually talk them through the set up and operation.” The company also provides technical and clinical services 24⁄7 by credentialed sleep technologist.

The consumer friendly nature of the test can mean the difference between diagnosis and failure. After all, says Hassett, potential patients often shy away from sleep labs, preferring the comfort and privacy of their own home. Factor in NovaSom’s lower price and it all points to more patients with proper diagnoses.

“Clinicians are starting to realize that we have a massive public health epidemic on our hands with OSA, and the community can’t handle all the patients,” says Hassett. “The fact that the device has the capacity for three nights of data eliminates the high false negative rate which is a problem with any one-night test, whether it is home or lab based. This turns out to be an advantage for providers and patients.”

Hassett and NovaSom’s customers believe the secret lies in the product’s ability to overcome the inevitable night-to-night variability that can hamper sleep testing results. “It’s been known for a long time that there was a burden of false negatives with one-night tests, perhaps even more so with labs than at home because of how daunting, unfamiliar, and uncomfortable it is to achieve natural sleep in the lab environment,” says Hassett. “With the 3-night test, we pick up a significant number of patients after the first night that would have been missed. With the high false negatives after one night tests, it just makes more sense.”

Provider education teams from NovaSom are dedicating time and energy to increasing awareness among (PCPs), ENTs, and pulmonologists. Since there are so many more PCPs out there, they have so far naturally benefitted a bit more from these educational efforts.

Particularly for uncomplicated patients at the primary level, PCPs are the main portal for a variety of patients with many different apnea severities. “We read statistics that say 7 out of 8 people with OSA are undiagnosed and unaware,” says Hassett. “Most providers in America do not have the level of vigilance for this condition that its public health implications would warrant.”

By now the statistics are familiar, but no less staggering. The costs and co-morbidities seem to multiply every year, and Hassett believes medical research will continue to confirm these findings. “We provide the resources that primary care physicians need to identify people at risk for OSA and determine appropriate candidates for both in-home and laboratory tests,” says Hassett. “We have a field-based medical education force and have made significant investments in CME and non-CME educational programs, aimed at primary care.”

The NovaSom home sleep test is offered as a turnkey service. There is no capital investment required of physicians. NovaSom provides rigorous infection controls, biomedical inspection, testing and calibration for each device in between patient uses, ensuring that every test sent to a patient will function accurately. Physicians view detailed study results through the online MediTrack® system.

“NovaSom has a large client care team and offers live clinical/technical support, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to patients undergoing the home sleep test,” adds Roger Richardson, vice president, Operations, for NovaSom. “We try to make testing as easy as possible, and are committed to raising consumer awareness of OSA through http://www.apnea.com.”

NovaSom, Inc. is fully accredited by The Joint Commission‘s Ambulatory Care Program, is a Medicare-approved Independent Diagnostic Testing Facility (IDTF), and is registered with the .

References

  1. Claman D, et al; Otolaryng Head Neck Surg 2001; 125: 227–230.
  2. Reichert JA, et al; Sleep Med 2003; 4: 213–218.

Richard Hassett, MD CEO NovaSom, Inc. http://www.novasom.com.

ScreenShot070 Brand Takes Center Stage Sleep Solutions Becomes NovaSom

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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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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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Introducting the new BW II PSG

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Image145 Introducting the new BW II PSGSmall Company, Big Impact

In the fiercely competitive world of sleep, USA—also known as —relies on nimble responses and easy financing to build a growing customer base.

Swimming freely in a sea of sharks is no easy task, but , co-founder of Florida-based Neurovirtual USA, Inc. has gotten used to it after more than a decade. Despite an environment filled with well-financed competitors, his company’s Sleepvirtual BWII PSG technology continues to do well in its role as a PSG machine that allows users to record and score sleep studies.

The product is composed of a hardware piece and a software program that can be used with PC computers that run Windows XP, Vista, or W7. Both trace and scoring capabilities are relied upon by users such as Jonathan Davidson, MD, owner of Advanced , who says the unit’s portability (under 10 pounds) and accompanying service make a potent combination.

knows that customers appreciate the BWII’s price and value, but it’s the technical support and financing, he says, that seals the deal. “We finance all of our customers internally, so they do not need to resort to third party financing to purchase our equipment,” says . “We offer three paths to obtaining our equipment: renting; lease to own; and purchase. Each of those offers price conscious purchasers a way to equip their without breaking the bank.”

As a owner for the past decade, Davidson particularly appreciates that Neurovirtual offers free, lifetime technical support all day, every day, for as long as he owns the equipment. And when he needs someone to talk with, he can always find someone—not always an easy task with the so-called big guys. “We have had problems with the reps at major companies,” says Davidson, who runs three in Stockton, Sacramento, and Modesto. “At other manufacturers, reps get fired and they can’t replace them. Neurovirtual is smaller, and more interested in giving you personal service. Acquisition of data is easy, validation is easy, and the way the hardware is designed makes it simple to work with. The electrode box is light, and it’s a fraction of the size of its competitors.”

Davidson heard about Neurovirtual through a colleague. He eventually called the company and received a 1-month trial product. He ordered two for his Stockton lab, replaced four machines in Modesto, and by the time he outfitted his Sacramento facility, he had a dozen machines—all of which are subject to free upgrades.

All about Mindset

Faria believes in the old axiom that if you don’t take care of your customers, someone else will. He likes the idea of being a relatively small and nimble company and, when it comes to financing, his philosophy is one that cash-strapped labs can embrace. “Let’s say you are going to buy three beds and it is going to be a $50,000 to $60,000 purchase, and you are probably going to a bank or to the manufacturers,” says Faria. “When you go to finance, it takes about a month just to get approved. They are going to ask for your statements and want to see your tax return, and it takes forever. We do internal financing, and so far we haven’t turned any customers down. We have processes in place, and that’s our trade secret.

“We are also the only company that offers lifetime technical support,” continues Faria. “That means that as long as they own our equipment, we are going to get their call and we are going to help them address their problem. We are the only company that offers free lifetime software upgrades.”

Faria contends that a lot of large companies can’t offer comparable service because of the inherent pressures of running a publicly traded company (Neurovirtual is private). “The pressures of Wall Street force these companies to show profits and the objectives are very short term,” says Faria. “When you look to us, you look to a company that has a mission to universalize sleep medicine. Yes, we have a mission in mind that we want to be big, we want to be everywhere in the world, and we want to make a difference in this world.”

ScreenShot062 Introducting the new BW II PSGWith the growth he expects, Faria admits that the inevitable challenge will be to maintain the services of a small company. By maintaining the private status of the company, he believes it can be done. “We don’t have the same pressure to impress shareholders, so our objective is to really satisfy each of our customers and expand and gain market share,” says Faria. “We are not in this fight just for the profit. We are here to make a difference. We are a for-profit business, but we are not under severe pressure from Wall Street for profits and results.”

For sleep technicians, Faria says the bottom line is the proverbial bottom line. And contributing to the bottom line is easier when systems simplify daily tasks and make technicians more effective. “You become a more productive worker and can take on more tasks in the same amount of time than you could before,” explains Faria. “Ultimately, you can see a boost in your wages and an increase in your sleep lab bottom line.”

The BWII PSG offers several different features:

Score on the run which allows users to split the screen during the acquisition and start scoring the same study you are recording. A sleep statistic window automatically gives updates on the AHI and other parameters in real-time.

All necessary menus recording a PSG on the same screen.

Montages, filters, sensitivity, and speed of the page adjustments with a mouse click or keyboard shortcuts.

One exam for one file for ease of transferring, copying, and e-mailing (HIPPA Compliant).

Exclusive technology allows users to have the system working anywhere when the team moves around to different locations. The system can be used for acquisition in one location, be scored somewhere else, and interpreted by the physician in a third place—and archived in a completely different location.

Free unlimited scoring and review software that can be installed on as many different computers as needed. For more information, visit http://www.sleepvirtual.com

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Don’t Neglect Snoring During CPAP Titration – SnoreTac Snore Sensing Adapter

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The Salter Labs BiNAPS and other select pressure transducers are utilized during sleep disorder studies to simultaneously measure respiratory airflow and snore pressure signals via a sleep diagnostic cannula. When titration to CPAP is initiated it previously required switching to a snore microphone/sensor. Now with the Salter Labs® SnoreTac™ Snore Sensing Adapter, all that is required is for a to utilize the SnoreTac™ Adapter with the existing sleep diagnostic cannula and place it securely on the patient’s neck.

The BiNAPS will provide a clean snore signal with less signal artifact than traditional sensors. This eliminates the need for a snore microphone/sensor. This technology is disposable for single patient use. It saves time and money, while eliminating the cleaning, damage and replacement issues associated with alternative snore sensors.

The Salter Labs SnoreTac™ was developed by engineers in the Salter Labs R&D department in response to requests from sleep labs for a way to improve snore signals and utilize their existing BiNAPS devices during CPAP titration to monitor snoring. The result is a small, lightweight disposable adapter that attaches to the Salter Labs® sleep cannula and utilizes existing piezo sensor technology in the BiNAPS® to deliver a clean, accurate signal to the PSG equipment or other data acquisition system.

Company officials believe the SnoreTac™ will benefit all sleep labs using Salter Labs® BiNAPS® and other combination airflow pressure/snore devices, as well as labs who are dissatisfied with their current snore microphone/sensors. Ultimately, the SnoreTac™ allows for improved detection of snore events with less  artifact, while providing a low cost disposable adapter that can be disposed of after each use.

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Information and Education

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phar equip11 Information and Education

A renewed commitment to a nationwide phone reference (1-800-SLEEPLAB) is just one of many projects on the Sleep Group Solutions docket.

Rani Ben-David, president of Sleep Group Solutions (SGS), North Miami Beach, Fla, wants to be all things to all people, at least when it comes to the telephone lines. The ambitious goal comes in the form of 1-800-SLEEPLAB, a work in progress that seeks to be nothing less than the largest directory in the sleep world—an ever-widening realm that includes neurology, cardiology, ENTs, , and .

With Vital Lessons Learned
From 1-800-SNORING, a pilot project dedicated solely to the dental end, Ben-David hopes to be a first-call for consumers who need help. Depending on the zip code from where the call originates, inquiries would go straight to participating sleep professionals. who use SGS sleep interpretation and scoring services will also automatically be a part of the 1-800 directory. “Right now there is no one directory for everybody,” says Ben-David. “This one reference is designed to be the heart for everyone.” While the listing is for FREE the sleep labs and Physicians have the option to lease the 1800 number for the ZIP code they practice at for a very low fee.

SGS has built its reputation by thinking big, and when company officials needed an advisor, they went straight to the top, garnering advice from Atul Malhotra, MD, medical director for the Boston-based Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) Sleep Disorders Research Program. SGS is the manufacturer of the Eccovision Rhinometer and Pharyngometer.
Jeffrey Fredberg The Harvard professor who invented the Eccovision Rhinometer and Pharyngometer recommended Malhotra, and Ben-David now counts the BWH mainstay as a friend and business associate. As both a purveyor of education and a seller of sophisticated measuring devices and other Sleep products such as the Embletta ambulatory sleep device, SGS has seen dramatic growth that mirrors the hype surrounding the burgeoning sleep industry. Plans for 2010/2011 are simple: keep it going, spread the news, and take on even more projects. That is why CEO Tamir Cohen has started a road trip to Europe and the Middle East to start partnerships in those Regions.

New Partners, New Twists, New Technology
A partnership with Newport Beach, Calif-based Glidewell Dental Lab offers SGS an opportunity to double its number of educational seminars to about 80 per year. Glidewell Doctors will now get a discounted rate. Glidewell provides a lot of dental appliances in the vast metropolis of Southern California and throughout the World. “It’s a huge partnership because they do more than 3,000 per month,” enthuses Ben-David. “Those Doctors need the education, and it’s a perfect opportunity for two companies with integrity to come together for mutual benefit. Glidewell is one of the most reputable Dental Labs in the World”.
embletta sgs1 Information and Education

The SGS educational model starts with a 2-day seminar. “Most of the professionals who lecture for us are diplomates of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine,” adds Ben-David. “Doctors come to the courses very excited to learn about the field of sleep. In 2 days, we teach them about apnea, insomnia, and the main sleep problems. Of course, we cover the dental side of sleep apnea and our are very soon, busy treating patients.

emblas sgs sensors1 Information and Education
An App for That
Technology in the form of an iPhone application is designed to aid consumers, many of whom rely heavily on cell  phone information. The app records a bed partner’s snoring for 60 seconds, then features a questionnaire to fill out. “Send it to us and our server automatically sends it to the closest sleep pro in your area, and that professional is part of the 800 directory,” explains Ben-David. “The wife tells the husband that he snores. She can download the app and record him, the sleep doc will call you for the evaluation. People know they have a problem, but don’t take that extra step. Now the stalemate can be broken.” and can send the application via email as a kind of rudimentary initial screening. “It’s not a medical screening,” admits Ben-David, “but they can send it to their patients and ultimately give an opinion.” Oral Appliance for Less Yet another SGS venture with Respire Medical involves an
oral appliance at a reasonable price. “It is a laboratory-fabricated appliance at a cost of $149,” says Ben-David.  “Compare that to a well-known brand that is $550. For the patient to be able to do it, we lowered the cost of the appliance. It’s as good as everyone else’s, but at a quarter of the price. We are making enough money on the $149 that we don’t need to charge more.” The Gelb Center in New York City has partnered with SGS and Respire to offer the best solutions for Sleep Disordered Breathing. Drs Harold and Michael Gelb direct an Integrated TMJ and Sleep practice at 635 Madison Avenue together with David Walton and Walid Raad of Respire and SGS.

Rani Ben-David, President of Sleep Group Solutions is based in Miami, FL.
For more information on SGS, please visit www. sleepgroupsolutions.com

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