The Oregon Clinic in Portland, Oregon has been awarded accreditation as a Sleep Disorders Center by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). The Oregon Clinic joins the ranks of only 10 other accredited sleep centers in the Portland Metropolitan area.
To receive accreditation, a sleep center must meet or exceed all standards for professional health care as designated by the AASM. The accreditation process involves detailed inspection of a center’s facility and staff, including an evaluation of testing procedures, patient contacts, and physician training. Additionally, the facility’s goals must be clearly stated and include plans for positively affecting the quality of medical care in the community it serves. 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 Oregon Clinic offers a full service Sleep Disorders Center able to see and treat any sleep disorder, including insomnia, restless legs, circadian rhythm disorders, sleep apnea, parasomnias, and snoring. The state-of-the-art facility features four (4) home-like bedrooms each with a private bath. The center also offers additional services including a sleep apnea support group meeting twice a month. The 11 physicians, including two board certified sleep specialists, and two nurse practitioners are dedicated to patient education and top quality patient care. “Sixty percent of our technical staff are registered by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists. To become registered an individual must pass the national registry exam and comply with continuing education requirements. In July 2009, the AASM will make it mandatory for accredited sleep centers to employ at least on full time registered sleep technologist. Having 80 percent registered staff more than a year before the requirement takes effect shows our commitment to quality care.” said Lisa Bauck, Sleep Laboratory Manager.
AASM is a professional medical society for clinicians, researchers, and other health care providers in the field of sleep medicine. As the national accrediting body for sleep disorders centers and labs, the AASM is dedicated to setting standards and promoting excellence in sleep medicine heath care, education and research.
Dr. Michael Lefor, sleep center medical director, concludes, “The accreditation of the sleep center by the AASM has been a goal from day one of opening the center. This is in line with our commitment to providing thoughtful and all-inclusive care for all of our sleep patients. This commitment extends not only from our physician staff but our supporting staff, technical staff and facilities that make our complete sleep center. Ultimately this extends The Oregon Clinic’s dedication to excellent care and compassion to our patients, their families and referring physicians.”