Message From The CEO
Much has happened since we’ve updated our website recently. As many of you readers know, we completed an addition to our Great Falls facility in August 2006. This addition allowed for two more sleep exam rooms, a dedicated examination room for our sleep medicine physician and new offices for nursing and areas of administration. The original part of our center was remodeled as well including the waiting room, and we nearly tripled our parking spaces as to allow better access for you. Please call our staff if you’re interested in a tour. More expansion is on the horizon for Great Falls and our other clinics in Helena and Butte. I will keep you updated as our plans progress.
Our sleep medicine physician continues to accept new appointments for consultations and follow-ups, and is now seeing patients for pulmonary care as well. Because of this addition of specialized care, we have a new state of the art Pulmonary Function Testing machine, simple spirometry unit and other equipment to enhance our new pulmonary department. We are please to offer these services in conjunction to our first rate sleep disorders program. Although we still offer our mask and machine consultations by board registered sleep technologists and respiratory therapists, our staff is in the process of forming a sleep apnea club for those who are interested in learning about new products, have questions about equipment, or having a difficult time with compliance issues. We will meet once a month at our facility, and questions will be addressed by one of our physicians and/or program directors. For more information, please contact Gene Davis at 453-7570.
At the time of this writing, we continue to remain the only accredited sleep disorders centers in north central Montana. Our original accreditation of 5 years expired last year, and we were reviewed and inspected again by a physician from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). Our facility and staff were found to meet or exceed all criteria required by the AASM, covering areas from excellent patient care to the competence of our staff physicians. Our re-accreditation is good until 2011. We have recently obtained AASM accreditation in Butte as well. Our AASM re-accreditation in Helena is up for renewal in 2009. We’re very proud of these accomplishments for many reasons. First and foremost, we ensure that all patients receive the best sleep medicine care possible. In order to provide this level of care, physicians must be appropriately trained and certified in sleep medicine. Technologists should also have extensive training and successfully pass the sleep technology registry examination. Last but not least, all areas of quality assurance must be met, and the physical plant must demonstrate a safe and comfortable environment. Rocky Mountain Sleep Disorders Center has provided all of this since the day we opened, and not because we had to, but because we wanted the best for everyone walking in our doors. Accreditation from the AASM has actually been required for sleep disorders centers since November of last year by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana for reimbursement. The general public and many healthcare providers are not aware of this facility credentialing policy. For those sleep disorders centers who were accredited by the AASM before this policy went into effect, my hat is off to you. You weren’t required to obtain this enormous achievement, but you believed in outstanding overall patient care. It is very important to check with your insurance company as they may require you to visit an AASM accredited sleep disorders facility.
With summer time finally here, many people our making plans for well deserved vacations. With this comes the aspect of driving long hours in some cases. Remember to get a good night’s sleep the night before you travel. If you feel drowsy while driving, pull over and let somebody else take the wheel while you nap. If you’re alone, pull over and rest for a while. By all means, don’t risk the chance of falling asleep at the wheel! Have a safe and happy summer!
Sleep Well!
Paul F. Schmook, RPSGT
Chief Executive Officer
