River Park reopens sleep lab to meet growing community need

Ascension Saint Thomas River Park Hospital has reopened its sleep lab, restoring local access to advanced diagnostic testing and treatment for people experiencing sleep disorders.

The reopening comes in response to growing demand for sleep services in the region, where patients have faced waits of up to six months for sleep studies at other facilities. Bringing sleep testing back to McMinnville gives patients in the area greater access to care closer to home.

Sleep studies can help diagnose conditions including obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, snoring, narcolepsy and other sleep disorders. Timely diagnosis and treatment can help improve patients’ health and well-being.

“The return of the sleep lab is a direct response to what we’ve heard from our community,” said Eric Paul, president of Saint Thomas River Park. “We have made it a priority to bring this service back locally, helping patients avoid long travel distances or months of waiting for care.”

The newly reopened, two-room sleep lab offers a range of diagnostic services, including:

·       Overnight in-lab sleep studies

·       CPAP titration studies

·       Split-night studies

·       Home sleep testing

·       Pediatric sleep studies for patients age 6 and older

The sleep lab is under the medical direction of Dr. Reed LaHaye, a physician specializing in sleep medicine. He helps ensure patients receive comprehensive diagnostic evaluations and evidence-based care recommendations.

“Sleep problems are common, but they shouldn’t be something people simply learn to live with,” said Dr. LaHaye. “A sleep evaluation can help identify what may be contributing to symptoms such as snoring, disrupted sleep or excessive daytime fatigue. With the sleep lab back in McMinnville, patients can have access to diagnostic services and individualized care recommendations closer to home.” 

During an overnight sleep study, patients stay in a comfortable, private room while specialized equipment monitors brain activity, breathing patterns, heart rhythm, oxygen levels, body movements and sleep stages. The sleep medical director reviews the data to help determine an appropriate treatment plan for each patient.

Sleep disorders affect millions of Americans and frequently go undiagnosed. Conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia and restless legs syndrome can be associated with serious health concerns, including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression and chronic fatigue.

People experiencing symptoms such as loud snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, waking up gasping for air, morning headaches, difficulty staying asleep or persistent fatigue are encouraged to talk with their primary care clinician about wheth er a sleep evaluation may be clinically appropriate.

For more information, call the sleep lab at 931-815-4230.

Ascension Saint Thomas River Park is a 125-bed hospital and the largest Ascension Saint Thomas hospital in the Upper Cumberland. With nearly 400 associates and a medical team representing 26 specialties, the hospital continues to enhance its services and facilities to meet community needs  Recent upgrades include telemedicine stroke services, the return of acute dialysis to McMinnville, robot-assisted surgical technology, a renovated 12-bed ICU, and a renovated and expanded emergency department.