Just in time for busy holidays, St. Joseph's Health Offers New Sleep treatment

Syracuse, NY (December 13, 2019) – The holidays can be an incredibly busy time. There is more to do, but no extra hours in the day. It can be tough to get a good night’s rest, which is critically important to staying healthy during the holidays. And it may be even more difficult for people who suffer from sleep apnea.

What is it? Obstructive sleep apnea affects 18 million Americans. It occurs when the airway collapses during sleep and blocks the flow of oxygen to the brain. The brain senses a lack of oxygen and wakes the body up just long enough to take a breath, then falls back to sleep. Untreated, it can cause vehicle accidents, worsening mood and memory, stroke, heart attack and even death.

What’s the solution? St. Joseph’s Health now offers Inspire, an innovative procedure to help people who have failed at traditional treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. And Dr. Robert Kellman is the only surgeon in CNY to perform the Inspire procedure. (Watch an interview with Dr. Kellman at: www.sjhsyr.org/find-a-service-or-specialty/sleep-lab/)

How does it work? Kellman, a board-certified otolaryngologist, implants the Inspire Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulator through an outpatient procedure. Most patients return home the same day. Inspire then works inside the patient’s body, providing mild stimulation that keeps the airway open during sleep, allowing oxygen to flow naturally.

“The Inspire procedure is a novel approach to sleep apnea that brings the tongue out of the way to allow unobstructed breathing during sleep,” said Dr. Kellman. “For patients with moderate to severe sleep apnea who are intolerant of CPAP, it provides a way for them to have normal sleep — which is critical for health and wellbeing. Of course, people need to be carefully evaluated to make sure that they are candidates.”

Where do I start? The first step is to get referred to a sleep specialist and conduct a sleep study. The Sleep Laboratory at St. Joseph’s Health provides diagnostic testing for patients who have different sleep disorders.

“Patients come in and spend the night in our lab, which has private rooms set up like a home bedroom,” said Sleep Lab Director Steve Swierczek. “We connect the patient to equipment and monitor their sleep throughout the night. Patients may come back for a second sleep study to test various non-surgical options for treating the identified sleep disorder. Our team will then be able to determine whether someone has obstructive sleep apnea and might be a candidate for the Inspire treatment.”

The results? According to Inspire, patients who use this therapy have seen a 79% reduction in sleep apnea events per hour, and 88% of bed partners have reported a reduction in the patient’s snoring.

How much does it cost? Inspire is often covered by commercial insurance and Medicare based on medical necessity, and Inspire is on the Federal Supply Schedule – which makes it available for active military, veterans and their beneficiaries at select VA and military hospitals.

Inspire was approved by the FDA in 2014 and has been proven safe and effective in multiple clinical studies. Patients who are interested in this procedure should take with their primary care provider to request a referral for a sleep study.

About St. Joseph’s Health

St. Joseph’s Health is a regional non-profit health care system based in Syracuse, NY. St. Joseph’s has been an innovative leader in health care since our founding in 1869 as the first hospital open to the public in the city of Syracuse. Offering primary, specialty and home care, a Magnet-recognized hospital, and collaboration with community partners, St. Joseph's Health advances the well-being of the communities we serve through an expanding range of services to ensure our patients achieve optimum long-term health. St. Joseph’s is ranked by Consumer Reports among the top 15 heart surgery centers in the country, a designated Stroke Center and a U.S. News “Best Regional Hospital.” St. Joseph’s Health is affiliated with Franciscan Companies and St. Joseph’s Physicians, and is a member of Trinity Health. St. Joseph’s Health is celebrating our 150th Anniversary throughout 2019. For more information on our founding Sisters of St. Francis including Saint Marianne Cope, our legacy and our innovations, visitwww.sjhsyr.org/legacy.