Sleep Lab Offers Comfort of Upscale Hotel
Location/Contact Info: Bristol, Tenn., Johnson City, Tenn., Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, Lebanon, Ky., Stuart, Va.
(423) 764-4429
Established: 2003
Types of products sold: Sleep Studies
Size of Company:
20 employees
20 sleep studies per month
Home Health Products spoke with Jimmie Daugherty, chief manager. (Sue Daugherty, BSRN, RPSG, is sleep lab director.
What sets your sleep lab apart?
We have focused on the appearance of the sleep lab with most of the attention on patient rooms. The rooms have the appearance of an upscale hotel room. We have equipped each room with some of the best mattresses available. Each room has its own bathroom with a shower. There are many labs out there that have one common bathroom. We also serve patients a continental breakfast in the PT lounge.
We also have fast turnaround times, providing the referring physicians with the results. Most studies are scored and interpreted in three to four days. Our employees are oriented toward customer service. They go out of their way to make each patient feel comfortable.
What component of your business is working well for you?
Physician support has been remarkable, which is due to timely reports, quality studies and turnaround times.
What is something you have learned from your experience in the HME industry?
Customer service is number one.
Do you think the sleep market is changing?
The sleep market is definitely changing. The awareness with doctors and the community is evermore increasing. With obstructive sleep apnea linked to hypertension, heart failure and diabetes, there is going to be an increasing demand for sleep testing.
If you could change something about the HME industry, what would it be?
That we would receive the same reimbursement as the hospital.
What do you see as the trends in the sleep apnea/CPAP market?
Continued growth.
Why do you think the general publis is becoming more aware of sleep apnea?
Sleep labs and DME companies have been working with the manufacturers of sleep equipment to educate physicians. Also, the media has been covering the issue of obstructive sleep apnea. We are learning that sleep in linked to many other conditions.
And finally, please tell us a fun fact about your facility or about you!
We really enjoy to hear stories from patients on how their lives have changed due to having their sleep disordered breathing corrected.
This article originally appeared in the July 2006 issue of HME Business.