Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/155901
"Looking for sleep apnea during routine physical examination is extremely important. Ask patients the key questions that home in on the presence of problems during sleep that may affect other medical conditions. If sleep apnea is identified, send patients to the Sleep Lab so they can have a sleep study for confirmation and assessment. We'll quickly get them into treatment." — Sherif el Bayadi, MD, FCCP, FAASM, Medical Director, Oneida and Carthage Sleep Centers Neil Widrick, BS, RRT, RPSGT, RPFT, Manager of St. Joseph's Sleep Laboratories ease of accessibility THE SLEEP LAB at St. Joseph's Hospital has four pulmonologists, all board-certified in sleep medicine, and a group of registered polysomnographic technologists who carefully monitor patients to create a comprehensive image of sleep health and recommend appropriate treatment when necessary. St. Joseph's Sleep Lab services can be accessed at three locations, designed to meet the needs of people who live and work in a wide area: + East Genesee Sleep Lab 945 east Genesee St., Suite 300 Syracuse, NY 13210 315-475-3379 + North Medical Center Complex Franklin Campbell, respiratory therapist, attaches leads to a patient's head and neck. 7246 Janus Park Dr. Liverpool, NY 13088 important to inquire about any history of night terrors and sleepwalking to help form a complete picture." Restless leg syndrome and other parasomnias underscore the importance of thorough patient histories, including detailed questions about sleep habits. Physical examination alone will reveal no physical symptoms of restless leg syndrome, which can significantly disrupt sleep patterns and prevent patients from getting restful sleep, causing excessive daytime sleepiness, according to Dr. El Bayadi. Life-Changing Intervention Patients are not always forthcoming about their sleep habits — whether because of embarrassment or because they don't feel the information is relevant. However, providers at the Sleep Lab note that engaging patients on the subject is of critical importance to their health and quality of life. Frank L. Smith Jr., MS, RRT, Vice President for Corporate Development at St. Joseph's Hospital and President and CEO of Franciscan Companies, adds that diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders often enrich patients' lives in ways they never expected. "I run quite a few divisions for the hospital, and I get more letters and phone calls expressing patient satisfaction for the Sleep Lab than for any other program," Smith says. "Proper diagnosis and intervention can drastically change someone's life." ■ 315-218-9804 + Northeast Sleep Lab 4400 Medical Center Dr., Suite 400 Fayetteville, NY 13066 315-329-7378 Rural Access Franciscan Companies, an affiliate of St. Joseph's Healthcare, supplies sleep technicians to the following Sleep Centers in rural New York: + The Sleep Center at Oneida Healthcare 601 Seneca St. Oneida, NY 13421 315-363-4419 + Carthage Area Hospital Sleep Center 1001 West St. Carthage, NY 13619 315-493-2512 MDNEwS.COM ■ MD News Central New York |7