Millennium Sleep Lab partners with SomnoMed to provide patients with a simple process for testing and treating sleep apnea.
Millennium Sleep Lab has been providing sleep testing in comfort of home for 10 years, and now our patients are even able to “meet” with one of our physicians to discuss results and order treatment via telemedicine. Unfortunately, we realized that many of the people we tested over the last 10 years refused to use a CPAP or tried it but couldn’t handle the air pressure. Recently, our patients have struggled to even obtain a CPAP due to a national supply shortage.
Oral appliance therapy is a great alternative for many patients with sleep apnea. The appliance, called a mandibular advancement device (MAD), holds the lower jaw slightly forward to keep the airway open and is a proven effective treatment for mild to moderate OSA.
SomnoMed is a leading manufacturer of oral appliances for sleep apnea, and the partnership between Millennium and Somnomed will streamline sleep testing and treatment. When a patient tests positive for sleep apnea, Millennium will assist in finding a qualified dentist to fit a patient with a SomnoMed appliance. If the patient requests, Millennium will ensure the dentist has clinical information and test results required for medical insurance to cover the treatment. Similarly, those who suspect they have sleep apnea, usually because a spouse witnesses it, and wants a device from SomnoMed can get the needed diagnosis for insurance. They can use a simple testing device from Millennium without leaving their home.
Mara Retzlaff, COO, explained “I am excited to provide our patients a complete solution to improve their sleep. In the past, when our test results included recommendations for treatment, all we could do was hope the patient followed up with their physician and used their CPAP. Now we can make them an appointment with our specialist and connect them to a local dentist.”
Sleep apnea is a health risk for many, and the partnership between Millennium and SomnoMed is a step toward testing and treating those at risk with more comprehensive care.