Frequently Asked Questions

 

1. What do I need to bring to my sleep study appointment?

You will need to bring your health insurance card, driver's license or photo ID, any copayment, pajamas or something to sleep in and toiletries, including bedtime and morning medications. If your insurance requires a referral, you will need to bring this with you. If you are currently on CPAP therapy, you should bring your CPAP machine, tubing, and mask, so that our sleep techs can inspect them. Other items that patients find helpful to bring include a favorite pillow, reading material, an iPod or MP3 player, a snack, items that help you be more comfortable and fall asleep in the lab environment (e.g. teddy bears) and please bring copies of prior sleep studies.

 

2. Is there wireless Internet available during my daytime Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) or Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT)?

Yes, Wi-Fi is available, but you must bring your own computer, tablet or phone.

 

3. Should I take my regular medications prior to the study? 

Most of the sleep studies are done with you taking your usual medications at the usual times. You may ask the doctor who referred you for your sleep study if there are any special instructions. 

 

• Daytime Multiple Sleep Latency Tests to assess the extent of daytime sleepiness are usually done off all stimulating medications and caffeine. Consult your referring physician early for specific instructions regarding your stimulant medications as these may need to be reduced gradually. Please do not drive if you are off your stimulants.

• Daytime Maintenance of Wakefulness Tests (MWT) are obtained to assess your response to treatment and when safety issues, especially driving, have been raised. The MWT is generally done with you taking all of your usual medications.

 

4. What about caffeine?

You should not consume caffeine on the day of your daytime nap study. If you regularly drink caffeine, you should reduce your caffeine consumption by one cup per day to avoid caffeine withdrawal headaches that can ruin your study. If you are coming in for an overnight sleep study, do not consume any caffeine after noontime on the day of your study.

 

5. Why do you need my driver's license and insurance card?

We are required by law to check identification to prevent identity theft and/or insurance fraud. We keep all records confidential.

 

6. May I sleep naked?

Eventhough it might be quite entertaining - no. As a courtesy to our sleep techs we request that you sleep in pajamas or a t-shirt and underwear at a minimum.

 

7. How do I find out the results of my study? 

Follow up with the doctor who referred you for your sleep study.

 

8. What kinds of monitoring equipment do you use?

We attach leads (small electrodes and wires) to your face, scalp, chest, and legs. There is also an oxygen sensor on one of your fingers, and elastic belts around your chest and abdomen. All of these sensors are painless. Most patients are surprised in the morning that they were able to sleep with all of these sensors. Finally, the conductive paste on the electrodes is tenacious but water soluble. You will want to shower and shampoo in the morning if you are leaving directly for work.

 

9. Is food served during the study?

We do not provide food. If you are coming in for an overnight study, we recommend that you eat a regular dinner prior to coming in (not too late, please). If you usually have an evening snack, please bring it with you (we recommend yogurt). If you are here for a daytime nap study, you may bring food with you for breakfast and lunch, or go out for your meals.

 

10. May I go to the bathroom once all the sensors are hooked up and I am in bed? Yes. If during the night you need to use the restroom, simply let the sleep techs know, and you can easily be untethered so you can walk to the bathroom.

 

11. Will my insurance cover the sleep study?

Prior to your sleep study, our billing office will contact your insurance company to check the eligibility and benefits of your policy. If the results of your sleep study lead your treating physician to prescribe CPAP therapy, you must contact the homecare durable medical equipment (DME) company regarding your policy's eligibility and benefits (see question 13).

 

12. Will my insurance cover CPAP?

Most insurance companies cover CPAP machines and supplies. For details, check the durable medical equipment (DME) paragraph on your policy.

 

13. How do I get a CPAP machine?

Following a CPAP titration study, we will, if the patient or the referring doctor requests that we do so, send a copy of the study to a home-care company that participates with your insurance. We do this to expedite therapy and are not remunerated for this service. Your physician will send the prescription, the home-care company and they will contact you to discuss your insurance benefits and schedule an appointment to bring the equipment to you. 

 

14. How long will I be here?

If you are coming in for an overnight sleep study, you should arrive by 9:00 pm and expect to leave by 7:00 am. If you are a night owl, please alert us ahead of time so we can accommodate you and get enough monitoring time to make a diagnosis. Late sleep-ins cannot be arranged for Saturday or Sunday morning.

 

15. What is HIPAA?

HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, a Federal law that establishes basic standards for how health information is protected. The HIPAA form that you sign prior to your sleep study allows you to list persons you authorize to have access to your medical records (such as your other treating physicians or family members). HIPAA also requires medical providers to protect health information of their patients, and to provide written notification to patients of how this is done. When you sign the HIPAA form, your signature acknowledges that you were provided with this written notification.  

 

16. Is TV available in my room?

Yes, TV is available in each room with Time Warner Cable. If you are having trouble going to sleep, we have found that watching the Dallas Cowboys, especially the last several years, almost guarantees that you will go right to sleep.

 

17. Are facilities available to shower after my study?

Showers are not available at the Sleep Center. However, if you feel it is necessary to shower after the study, we do have shower facilities available next door at KWRH and out techs can arrange for you to use those facilities following your study.

 

18. Are there any self-tests that I can take to see if I might have a sleep disorder?

Yes, check out the below links and test yourself for a possible problem.