Sleep Diagnostic Center at Dobbs Ferry Pavilion of St. John's Is Awarded Accreditation

July 31, 2009 - PRLog -- “We are pleased with this achievement. This accreditation recognizes that we provide the highest quality patient care in a warm, compassionate environment,” said Rajendra Rampersaud, M.D., a member of the Hospital’s Medical Staff and Director of the Hospital’s Sleep Diagnostic Center. Dr. Rampersaud is Board Certified in Sleep Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine and Critical Care.

Sleep disorder centers and laboratories for sleep related breathing disorders are awarded accreditation from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) when they demonstrate that they meet the highest standards of quality patient care.

Millions of Americans suffer from sleep apnea, a disorder that interrupts breathing during sleep. Left unchecked, sleep apnea can lead to irregular heart beat, high blood pressure, heart attack or stroke

AASM accreditation is the gold standard by which the medical community and the public can evaluate sleep medicine services. The Standards for Accreditation ensure that sleep medicine providers display and maintain proficiency in areas such as testing procedures and policies, patient safety and follow-up, and physician and staff training.
The AASM also encourages Medicare and private health insurance providers to link the reimbursement of sleep services to AASM accreditation. Recognizing that accreditation leads to improvements in patient care, many of these providers now cover sleep services only if they are performed in an AASM-accredited facility. This requirement promotes a consistent level of excellence in the provision of sleep medicine services nationwide.

Responding to the growing need for sleep testing in the community, The Dobbs Ferry Pavilion of St. John’s with its partner, Sleep Services of America (SSA), has established the Sleep Diagnostic Center.  Up to two patients per night can be accommodated at the Dobbs Ferry Pavilion in comfortable bedrooms with full size beds. An overnight stay is required to allow for technicians to monitor heart rhythm, brainwaves and airflow.  Doctors review the tests and the patient’s physician learns the results within 48 hours.

The Sleep Lab is open to residents throughout the tri-state area with a doctor referral. The staff handles all the paperwork for the patients before testing, including pre-certification with most medical insurance carriers. For more information call the Sleep Diagnostic Center at 1-914-559-1010.