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Updated: 8:12 AM Oct 26, 2007
Morning Medical Moment – Hotel Sleep
A good night's sleep. It's what millions of Americans dream about. Common sleep disorders can keep you from getting much-needed rest. Figuring out the problem used to require a hospital stay. Now a more comfortable trend, sleep clinics in popular hotels. Posted: 6:00 AM Oct 26, 2007 |
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Night time at the Holiday Inn Express. You might consider this an unlikely time and place for a medical test. But that's exactly what's going on in one of the rooms.
When it comes to getting common sleep disorders diagnosed, a growing number of patients like Jose Lora are choosing testing centers that have set up shop in hotels. This one is run by a company called Sleep Care Solutions with five locations from South Miami to [Washington] DC.
“The pages, the sounds, the hustle and bustle of a hospital. You want a bad night's sleep, go to a hospital. You want a good night sleep, go to a hotel, if you can't go to your own home, “says Powers from Sleep Care Solutions
This year, the Cleveland Clinic Florida moved its sleep disorders center from the hospital. To the Marriott Courtyard just up the street in Weston. Here they occupy seven rooms.
Sick patients can occupy hospital rooms while the patients with sleep disorders can be evaluated in a comfortable setting. While the location has changed for this center, specialists still read each overnight evaluation.
"We are board certified in pulmonary diseases as well as sleep disorders,” says Powers.
But Sleep Care Solutions uses ...
"The primary care physician. We train them to read their own. It's an eight hour course that we provide,” says Powers.
And this company sells the C-Pap machines to treat sleep apnea. With so many Americans tossing turning and snoring, sleep disorders have become big business.
"My snoring was pretty intense. My wife asked me to do something about it,” says Paul Falkey.
Falkey has undergone two overnight sleep studies. One in a hospital, the other in a hotel -- where the parking was easier, the check-in much quicker.
"I walked up to the room at the hotel. They were ready for me, I signed a few papers, and got a nice king size bed, your own bathroom, and a little privacy. It was a much nicer atmosphere. Much less intimidating,” says Falkey.
With a quieter, more comfortable environment the patients are happier, and the doctors get a better result.
"There such a thing as a first night effect, where patients who come to a sleep lab have difficulty adjusting and difficulty falling asleep. That's been less common here at the hotel,” says Sleep Specialist Dr. Laurence Smolley.
And getting a good night's sleep is what it's all about.

