UTICA, N.Y. — The Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) Sleep Disorders Center, located at 2215 Genesee St. in Utica, recently reopened to new patients after being closed for a year due to staffing issues, according to a news release from the health-care system. In addition, the sleep center also received its sixth five-year accreditation from […]
UTICA, N.Y. — The Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) Sleep Disorders Center, located at 2215 Genesee St. in Utica, recently reopened to new patients after being closed for a year due to staffing issues, according to a news release from the health-care system.
In addition, the sleep center also received its sixth five-year accreditation from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Accreditation to assess sleep programs is voluntary and based on standards established by the academy. To achieve five-year accreditation, a sleep center must meet or exceed all standards. The process includes an inspection of the center’s facility and staff, as well as an evaluation of testing policies and procedures, patient contact and education, and physician training. Additionally, the facility must provide a detailed quality assurance plan and include evidence of successfully meeting clearly defined goals and objectives as they relate to the quality of medical care in the community it serves.
“One of the more common sleep problems is obstructive sleep apnea syndrome,” Dr. Steven A. Levine, medical director of the MVHS Sleep Disorders Center, said in the release. “Signs and symptoms may include snoring, periods where one stops breathing or gasps for air, morning headaches, frequent awakenings with need to urinate, problems with concentration and memory, mood swings, and a feeling of depression, to name a few. Obstructive sleep apnea is a serious medical condition. Studies indicate it may result in an increased risk of hypertension, atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, diabetes, stroke, and other vascular disease.”
The MVHS Sleep Disorders Center says it features a state-of-the-art sleep-monitoring control room and six bedroom suites. The center’s staff includes four registered polysomnographic technologists credentialed by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists and/or the American Board of Sleep Medicine.