SLEEP HEALTHCENTERS^® LLC AND BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER TEAM UP FOR COMPREHENSIVE SLEEP DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS

BOSTON – Sleep HealthCenters^® LLC (SHC) and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) have announced an agreement to further develop and manage comprehensive sleep diagnosis and treatment programs at BIDMC.

The newly named “Sleep HealthCenter^® affiliated with the Beth Israel Medical Center” is one of only five Boston area sleep centers accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.. It will operate under the management of SHC, which was organized in 1997 and is the largest provider of sleep diagnosis and treatment in the region.

Untreated disorders – such as sleep apnea, chronic insomnia and narcolepsy – can affect work performance and quality of life. They can also be a significant risk factor in accidents and other serious problems, including cardiovascular disease.

Under the agreement, BIDMC specialists will continue to provide professional interpretation of sleep studies conducted in the Brookline Avenue facility, which will be operated by SHC. Erik Garpestad, M.D., from the Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care at BIDMC, will serve as the center’s medical director, ensuring that the laboratory and treatment services provided by Sleep HealthCenters are seamlessly coordinated with the patient care provided by the medical center’s neurology and pulmonary departments.

“The demands for sleep medicine services is growing very rapidly,” said David Barone, SHC’s chief executive officer. “This center will help to improve response time and ensure the highest quality of care for our patients.”

Clifford Saper, M.D., chairman of BIDMC’s department of neurology agreed. “The sleep physicians at BIDMC are among the top experts in the field, but our sleep laboratory has never been able to keep pace with their clinical demands. We hope that the new relationship with SHC will allow us to expand our services and provide better care to our patient community.”

For more information on sleep disorders, contact your primary care physician, or call the sleep clinic at the BIDMC, (617) 667-1256. For more information on Sleep HealthCenters, call (617) 527-2227 ext 126, or visit its web site at www.SleepHealth.com.