Continuum of Care
Patients are referred to SleepQuest by their physicians, for the purpose of sleep disorder testing to determine whether obstructive sleep apnea is the source of problems related to daytime fatigue, snoring, low energy and disturbed sleep patterns.
SleepQuest specializes in home sleep disorder diagnoses, monitoring and treatment utilizing validated, state-of-the-art portable devices. We provide five types of services:
1. Diagnostic Sleep Testing,
2. Titrations,
3. CPAP Treatment,
4. Patient Education,
5. Compliance Monitoring.
Why we are unique
Since SleepQuest also provides the therapeutic equipment used in sleep care, we are a DME (Durable Medical Equipment) company, but that is where any similarity to other DME companies ends. Conventional home care companies are responsible for a full range of equipment and services from wheelchairs and specialty beds to kidney dialysis and respiratory equipment and the quality of care required to service sleep disorder sufferers is often less than satisfactory. This is refelected in the industry-wide CPAP patient compliance rate of only 41% as reported in the May 12, 1998 edition of the Wheat First Union, Home Health Care Monitor Report.
SleepQuest is focused only on sleep care. We strongly believe that service and education are the keys to successful treatment and patient compliance. A patient will stop using the CPAP device because of inadequate education, improper mask sizing, or lack of personal attention. Working exclusively with SleepQuest, an insurer understands that through our licensed Respiratory Therapists and PSG Technologists, we provide optimum quality patient care, personal attention, education, and compliance monitoring. We own the responsibility for answering questions, troubleshooting problems and monitoring patients. We provide in-home telephone support for the patient whenever they need it.
This translates to substantial benefits for the patient, doctor and insurer including higher patient satisfaction, lower patient attrition, and our CPAP patient compliance rate of 93%.
Diagnostic Sleep Testing
This physician-prescribed test, utilizes a special monitor that is connected to the patient in their home under the supervision and instruction of a Respiratory Care Practitioner or PSG Technologist. The patient sleeps with the monitor for one night while a variety of data is recorded that determines if the patient has a sleep related disorder. The recorded data include oxygen saturation, nasal airflow, body position, heart rate, and apneic events (cessation of breathing). The SleepQuest Medical Director, a board certified sleep medicine specialist, interprets the data and produces a report for the patient's physician. The physician then uses this data to make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment. If Obstructive Sleep Apnea is diagnosed, the physician will often prescribe treatment with a CPAP machine. To determine the proper settings for CPAP, a titration must be done.
Titration
The titration is performed when it is determined that a patient needs CPAP treatment. It is a type of calibration test performed with a special monitor and nasal mask that measure a patient's respiratory pressure needs. Those pressure numbers are then used to calibrate the CPAP machine that the patient will use for treatment. The titration test is also interpreted by the SleepQuest Medical Director.
CPAP Treatment
This is a widely used, successful treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. It consists of a machine connected to the patient via a hose and nasal mask. The patient sleeps with the machine every night. The machine is programmed to deliver a specific air pressure for that patient as determined by the titration study. The constant stream of air "splints" the throat and keeps it from collapsing and obstructing air flow. It prevents the apneic events and snoring associated with obstructive sleep apnea and ensures that the patient reaches the deeper stages (stage 4 and REM) of sleep that result in a restorative night's rest.
Patient Education and Compliance Monitoring
Our Respiratory Care Practitioners thoroughly educate and train our patients in the use of their equipment. This is a very time and labor-intensive process that ensures that our patients are comfortable with the equipment, and ultimately complying with treatment guidelines. This results in the consistent successful treatment outcomes for which SleepQuest is known.
Our comprehensive compliance monitoring process begins the day after a patient is started on treatment, and continues for one year. As result, our CPAP patient compliance rate is 93% as compared to the home-care industry average of 41%.
In addition to the obvious benefits, providing this kind of follow-up care allows SleepQuest to compile and present outcomes studies that can help managed care organizations track the clinical and economic success of their own programs. As noted by many sleep disorder specialists, successful CPAP treatment means reduced cost of treating sleep disorder patients, and higher quality of life for those patients. As reported in the November, 1996 issue of The Journal of Respiratory Care, one study by The Group Health Cooperative in Redmond, Washington, demonstrated that the total cost for sleep testing decreased by 48% when portable home testing was implemented.
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