Facility located within Waldemere Medical Plaza
This week, the “Sarasota Memorial Health Care Center announced the opening of Sarasota Memorial’s new, accredited Sleep Disorder Center, a comprehensive program dedicated to evaluating and treating a wide range of sleep disorders that can impact long-term health.”
A news release points out, “Community members experiencing loud snoring, witnessed pauses in breathing during sleep, unrefreshing sleep, morning headaches, or excessive daytime sleepiness are encouraged to speak with their healthcare provider about a sleep evaluation and potential overnight study. Early diagnosis and effective treatment of sleep disorders can significantly improve quality of life and reduce the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and other long-term complications.”
In the release, Dr. Rabih Loutfi explained, “Sleep is fundamental to overall health.” A board-certified pulmonologist, critical care and sleep medicine physician with SMH First Physicians Group who serves as the center’s medical director, Loutfi added, “When sleep is repeatedly disrupted by conditions such as sleep apnea, it can trigger a cascade of effects that negatively impacts immune function, increases the risk of chronic disease and impairs cognitive abilities such as memory and concentration.”
The release points out, “At Sarasota Memorial’s Sleep Disorder Center, a multidisciplinary team provides comprehensive evaluations, overnight diagnostic sleep studies and individualized treatment plans for a wide range of conditions disrupting essential sleep, including obstructive and central sleep apnea, circadian rhythm disorders, insomnia, narcolepsy and hypersomnia, snoring, and restless legs syndrome.
“Overnight sleep studies are performed by specially trained, registered sleep technologists in private, hotel-like sleep suites in Sarasota Memorial’s sleep medicine facility, which is accredited by the American Academy for Sleep Medicine,” the release continues. “The center utilizes the latest technology, as well as remote monitoring that can be used at home, to record breathing patterns, oxygen levels, brain waves, heart rhythm, and leg movements while patients sleep. Board-certified sleep medicine physicians meet with patients to discuss the results and potential treatment options,” it says
The Sarasota Memorial Sleep Disorder Center is located in Suite 705 of the Waldemere Medical Plaza, which stands at 1921 Waldemere St. in Sarasota, the release adds.
“Sleep studies and treatments are covered by most major insurance plans,” it notes. “A physician referral is required.”
For appointments or information, call the SMH Sleep Disorder Center at 941-262-5248 or visit https://www.smh.com/Home/Services/sleep-disorder-center.