Do you have difficulty sleeping through the night?

Do you awaken feeling sleepy, and remain sleepy through out much of the day?

Do you have to consume caffeine throughout the day just to stay awake?

Do you snore?

Have you moved to another room in the house to sleep, or has your spouse moved as a result of your snoring?

Do you believe that your sleep quality is better sleeping in your recliner?

If you have trouble getting a good night's sleep, you're not alone. According to the National Sleep Foundation, approximately 70 million people in the United States are affected by a sleep problem. At the same time, the organization found that the overwhelming majority of those sleep disorders go untreated.

The Thomas Hospital Sleep Center uses digital technology to record all parameters of sleep. This technology provides the doctors with a clean, accurate report to review making it possible for a timely diagnosis and treatment if indicated.

Our lab first opened in 1997.  Thomas Hospital Sleep Services is the first accredited facility in Baldwin County to be accredited by The American Academy of Sleep Medicine.  In 2008 during our re-accreditation visit the site surveyor determined that we should request our accreditation be upgraded to a full service sleep center.  We did submit that request and today we continue our history as an accredited “Sleep Center.”  We have had eleven years of continuous service an accredited laboratory/center for the diagnosis of sleep disorders.

Patients who undergo a sleep evaluation spend the night in the lab, connected to a computer by electronic leads. While the patient sleeps, a technician monitors graphs on the computer's screen. Dene McCoy, assistant director of neurology pulmonary & sleep services at Thomas Hospital, said that in order to make patients feel more at home, the four sleep lab rooms are set up like comfortable hotel rooms, complete with private baths and cable television.  When recording of sleep begins the patient is typically unaware of the recording system that they are connected too.  The patients do not have a say when it’s time for lights out, "The patient comes in at 8 p.m. and we get them to bed by 10:30 at the latest. We must have a minimum of six and a half hours, and ideally eight hours of recording time to accurately diagnose a patient’s sleep disorder."  The goal is to create an environment where quality sleep can be achieved.

McCoy said some of the most common sleep disorders diagnosed in the lab are obstructive sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, periodic limb movement, and narcolepsy. "If you answered yes to anyone of the questions at the beginning of this information page; please call our sleep center and allow us the opportunity to help you achieve the quality of sleep you desire.

We will assist you with the first steps to experience a new lease on life.    

For information about sleep disorders, consult your doctor, or call Thomas Hospital Sleep Services at 279-1940.